Nanobodies suitable for neuron regeneration therapy

ABSTRACT

The invention is in the domain of delivery of molecules to brain cells across the blood-brain barrier. The invention relates to a novel polypeptide-based carrier that allows the efficient delivery of an effector peptide, to neuron cells across the blood-brain barrier, and to methods for the production and testing of such carrier, including a model for testing the capacity of such molecule to cross the blood-brain barrier and/or the toxicity of molecules on the blood brain barrier and/or the capacity of molecules that have crossed to target human brain cells (e/g. neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells).

The invention is in the domain of delivery of molecules to brain cellsacross the blood-brain barrier. The invention relates to a novelpolypeptide-based carrier that allows the efficient delivery of aneffector peptide, to neuron cells across the blood-brain barrier, and tomethods for the production and testing of such carrier, including amodel for testing the capacity of such molecule to cross the blood-brainbarrier and/or the toxicity of molecules on the blood brain barrierand/or the capacity of molecules that have crossed to target human braincells (e/g. neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the context of treatment development for diseases such asneurodegenerative diseases and brain trauma, drug access andavailability to the brain are still unmet needs. Indeed, the brain isisolated from the systemic blood flow by a structure called theblood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is mostly composed of cerebralendothelial cells that dynamically interact with the neighbouring cells:astrocytes, pericytes, perivascular microglia and neurons. The threemajor functions of the BBB are the creation and maintenance of ionichomeostasis for neuronal functions, supply of the central nervous system(CNS) with nutrients, and protection from toxic injuries or someinfectious agents. The delivery of therapeutic substances to the brainhas to overcome the BBB, and turn it into an entry gate. Despite effortsto overcome the junctional or efflux barriers or to circumvent the BBB,most of the newly developed neuropharmaceuticals fail due to poor CNSpharmokinetics.

In the context of delivering molecules across the blood brain barrier(BBB), a type of highly soluble carriers derived from camelid heavychain-only antibodies (HcAbs) was described. The variable heavy chaindomains (VHH) of these antibodies show antigen specificity and affinitysimilar to conventional antibody constructs consisting of light andheavy chain heterodimers, and display a smaller size of roughly 15 kDa.A VHH is also designated “VHH fragment” to reflect that it is a portionof an antibody. VHH were shown, in specific contexts, to cross the BBB.Although for the time being no specific structural characteristic of VHHwere determined to convey permeability across the BBB, an importantparameter seems to be the isoelectric point (pI): permeable VHH arethought to usually be basic (especially with a pI higher than 8.5). Inaddition, size is considered an important factor of VHH permeability andtransport capacity and in particular its low molecular weight monomericstructure is considered to contribute to these capacities. It wascontemplated that targeting specific cell-surface antigens might induceendocytosis and improve the permeability of such VHH across the BBB. Itwas also contemplated to use a VHH specific for a brain antigen as avehicle to target a cargo molecule to a specific site in the brain,across the BBB (Li et al., 2012, WO 2010/004432 A1, U.S. Pat. No.8,460,888 B2). Such vehicle-cargo constructs, however, may have reducedefficiency or reduced application scope, in particular due to theirbinding to the brain antigen, which might result in sequestration of amajority of the cargo molecule away from its site of action.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have surprisingly identified a basic VHH, which does notrecognize any brain-specific antigen and is useful as a vehicle totransport a peptide (so-called cargo peptide) across the blood-brainbarrier. The cargo molecule, typically a peptide with specific activityon a brain component, having crossed the BBB, may retain its biologicalactivity and have access to the site of its activity.

The invention therefore provides a novel polypeptide comprising orconsisting in a VHH of a camelid heavy-chain antibody, said VHH havingthe sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. The invention further provides apolypeptide comprising or consisting of a VHH having a sequence variantof SEQ ID NO:3, such variant being as described below. The inventionfurther provides a polypeptide comprising or consisting of a VHH havinga portion of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or of a sequence variantthereof, as described below. The VHH and/or polypeptide comprising a VHHof the invention is permeable across the BBB and does not recognize anybrain antigen, in particular any human brain antigen, and/or does notspecifically bind to any human brain protein. In particular embodiments,the VHH and/or polypeptide comprising a VHH of the invention has a basicpI.

The invention also provides, as described below, VHH-comprisingpolypeptides consisting of chimeric (or fusion) polypeptides, comprisingor consisting in a VHH as defined herein with additional fusedpeptides/polypeptides, including peptides targeting neuron cells,peptides used as tags and/spacers and/or effector peptides having anintended and advantageous biological effect on brain cells.

Also provided are polynucleotides coding for such VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptides, vectors comprising said polynucleotides, cells containingsuch vectors, polynucleotides, VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptides andpharmaceutical compositions comprising such cells, vectors,polynucleotides, VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide. Also provided aremethods for the production of such VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptides orpolynucleotides, including methods and devices for testing whether apolypeptide or any other molecule is permeable across the BBB. Alsoprovided are uses of the VHH or polypeptides of the invention, includingtherapeutic uses.

In particular, the inventors have discovered that targeting of such aVHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide may be improved through a neuroncell-targeting peptide, e.g. fused with the VHH sequence, preferably atthe N-terminal extremity. Such peptides are preferably derived from thesequence of a Rabies Virus G protein (RVG), especially one of the novelRabies Derived Peptides (RDP) disclosed herein. Such peptides arepermeable across the BBB by themselves, and their use has beencontemplated to transport cargo molecules across the BBB (Fu et al.,2012). However, unlike the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention, they have not been shown to allow the stabilization (increasethe half-life) of effector peptides such as the neurovita peptidesdescribed herein. In particular embodiments, therefore, the VHH is fusedto a neuron-cell targeting peptide, in particular an RDP, preferablywith the sequence of (SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:32).

VHH usually display 2 cysteine amino acid residues (hereafter cysteines)that could form intramolecular disulphide bond. They do not contain anodd number of cysteines that could form intermolecular disulphide bondsand generally speaking do not have the capacity to form homodimers. Ithas been contemplated to generate fusion proteins of VHH or otherwiseproduce multimeric VHH. However, in the prior art only dimerizationstrategies involving the C-terminal region of the VHH (or VHH-derived)protein have been reported and disulphide bond formation has beenreported to result in dramatically reduced production yields and VHHsolubility (Simmons et al., 2006). In addition, since the small size ofVHH is believed to play an important role in their permeability throughthe BBB, in setups where VHH are used as trans-BBB carriers,dimerization and/or multimerization have not been contemplated. Theinventors have surprisingly discovered, and report herein, that it maybe advantageous to design the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention so that is has dimerization capacity. In particular,disulphide bond-forming cysteines may be included, especially in theN-terminal region of the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide, e.g. in thesequence of the neuron cell-targeting peptide mentioned above. This doesnot result in decreased expression in bacteria used for their productionand results in enhanced activity of the construct. VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptides forming disulphide bonds are readily expressed as dimers inthe periplasm of bacteria and the recovery of the construct is easy. Itis also possible that the formation of dimers increases the half-life ofthe VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention. In particularembodiments, therefore, the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention has dimerization, especially homodimerization capacity,preferably through the formation of disulphide bonds and/or throughdomains in the N-terminal region of the VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention. In preferred embodiments, disulphide-bondforming cysteines are comprised in the sequence of the neuroncell-targeting peptide fused in N-terminal position of theVHH-comprising polypeptide. Besides, in particular embodiments, the VHHor VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention is expressed in bacteriain the periplasm and is recovered, and optionally purified, from theperiplasm of said bacteria, preferably in the form of homodimers. TheVHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention is usually for use inapplications where one wants to exert a biological effect on brain cellswithout requiring the direct administration of a product in the brain.The biological effect (e.g. increased survival, proliferation, neuriteoutgrowth) can sometimes be obtained through known peptides, but thesepeptides may not have the capacity to permeate across the BBB and/or totarget their site of action (e.g. specific cells, cellular compartments,proteins or protein complexes, . . . ) by themselves. When bound to theVHH or VHH-comprising polypeptides described herein, the peptide may beable to retain its activity, while being permeable across the BBB and/ortargeted to a specific site of action. The invention therefore providesa VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide as defined herein, bound to aneffector peptide with biological activity on brain cells, particularlyfused with said peptide. A specific family of polypeptides, comprising aMAST-2 binding domain, the Neurovita family, has been described ashaving neurosurvival and neuroprotective effect and/or to promoteneurite outgrowth (WO 2010/116258 A1, WO 2013/068430 A2). Although theuse of such Neurovita peptides has been contemplated for therapeuticapplications, they are unable to permeate across the BBB efficiently bythemselves, which hinders their use in applications where the CNS mustbe targeted. It has been disclosed to use a delivery system based onexpression vectors (e.g. transduced ex vivo in an individual's cells) toexpress the peptides in the brain, but this has numerous drawbacks,including safety considerations related to the use of expressionvectors, as well as pharmacokinetic considerations, since the time fromadministration to actual efficient expression with this type of deliveryis expressed in days, which is too slow for many applications (such asrepair/recovery of neurons after an injury or stroke), while thehalf-life of the vector, of the order of weeks, may be much too long.Lentiviral vector based-delivery, in particular, has been disclosed andalthough mRNA is readily detected, the short half-life of the peptideleads to hardly detectable protein levels. Delivery systems based oncell-penetrating systems such as the HIV-1 derived TAT peptide forneurovita peptides have also been disclosed. However, the low efficiencyand/or short-half life of the fusion peptide required the use of highdoses of peptide, with potential toxic effects (Préhaud et al., 2010).

The inventors have surprisingly discovered that Neurovita peptides mayretain their biological activity when fused at the C-terminal extremityof a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention and areefficiently delivered across the BBB, e.g. when injected intravenously,and that such fusions promote neurite outgrowth and/or neurosurvivaland/or neuroprotection and allow the repair/recovery of neuron cellsafter a lesion. Therefore, the invention provides with Neurovitapeptides, fused in C-terminal with a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptideas described herein, thereby providing a VHH-comprising polypeptide ofthe invention having specific activity on neurons. In particularembodiments, the Neurovita peptide has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.

The efficient delivery across the BBB of a cargo peptide, bound to (orincluded in) a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention allowsto envision the use of such a construct for therapy, especially ofdiseases involving the CNS, such as neurodegenerative diseases, or ofbrain cell damage-associated conditions such as brain stroke or injury,or of the evolution of such disease or condition. Such uses may involvecompositions suitable for in vivo administration, especially forintravenous injection, comprising a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide ofthe invention and optionally other pharmaceutically acceptableconstituents. The invention therefore provides such compositions. Theinvention also provides therapeutic methods using the VHH,VHH-comprising polypeptides, and/or composition of the invention. Theinvention also provides such VHH, VHH-comprising polypeptides, and/orcompositions of the invention for use as a medicament or in themanufacture of a medicament, especially a medicament for use in thetherapy of neurodegenerative diseases or brain cell damage-associatedconditions. In particular embodiments, the therapy comprises theintravenous injection of the VHH, VHH-comprising polypeptides, and/orcompositions of the invention.

Methods to produce a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptides of theinvention, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are describedherein and are part of the invention. The VHH stands among the essentialelements of the products of the invention. The main feature of said VHHis its permeability across the BBB, or capacity to cross the BBB,preferably in the context of a VHH-comprising polypeptide. In preferredembodiments, the VHH of the invention does not recognize any brainantigen, particularly any human brain antigen, and/or the VHH,VHH-comprising polypeptide and/or VHH of the VHH-comprising polypeptidedo/does not bind specifically to any brain protein, particularly anyhuman brain protein. Methods to prepare VHH bearing said feature aredescribed in detail. In specific embodiments, the selected VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptide has a basic pI. In specific embodiments, theselected VHH and/or preferably the VHH-comprising polypeptideefficiently permeates across (or is able to cross) the BBB, especiallyefficiently permeates across the endothelial cell layer mimicking theBBB in an in vitro model of the BBB. In specific embodiments, the VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention may form homodimers. Inspecific embodiments of the methods to produce a VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention, said VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide isexpressed in cells, preferably in bacterial cells. In specificembodiments of said methods, said VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide isrecovered in the periplasm of bacteria.

Despite efforts to overcome the junctional or efflux barriers or tocircumvent the BBB, most of the newly developed neuropharmaceuticalsfail due to poor CNS pharmokinetics. Therefore, the early screening ofthese molecules on a pertinent and reliable BBB model for theirpenetration and their interaction with the barrier is crucial. Due tochanges in legislation and ethical issues related to animalexperimentation, the development of in vitro human BBB model is of majorinterest for basic research and industrial companies. In vitro models totest for permeability across the BBB present great interest in thedevelopment of substances intended to permeate across the BBB,especially substances for use in therapy and/or diagnostics, especiallyof diseases affecting the CNS. Such models also present interest forresearch and development related to the BBB. Currently, in vitro modelsused in such applications include models where the BBB itself ismimicked by a confluent layer (monolayer, or several layers) ofendothelial cells, which may be grown e.g. on a filter. The filter maybe placed in a cell culture container, in such a way that it separatesthe cell culture container in two compartments, preventing passivediffusion of macromolecules from one compartment to the other. In suchmodels, a substance may be incubated in one of the compartments, and itspermeability can be measured by measuring the quantity of substancefound in the other compartment after a given time and/or its effect onthe BBB can be measured by measuring i.e. the viability of endothelialcells constituting the confluent layer (Weksler et al., 2005, U.S. Pat.No. 8,084,254 B2, WO 2006/056879).

However, it is recognized that such simple models cannot accuratelyreflect the in vivo behaviour of the BBB. In particular, it isrecognized that, in addition to endothelial cells constituting the BBBitself, the effect of environing cells, particularly of cells found inthe brain, is significant. More sophisticated models have therefore beendeveloped, which comprise, in addition to the layer(s) of endothelialcells, neuronal cells and/or glial cells, including e.g. astrocytes(Bicker et al., 2014, EP 1 964 915 A1). However, such models usuallymake use of rodent/bovine cells, while it is recognized that a reliablemodel should consist in cells from human origin. Microglial cellsconstitute important components of the BBB environment. However, mostmodels of the prior art are devoid of such cells, in particular becauseof their inflammatory effect, which is thought to be damageable to themodel. Indeed, activated microglial cells have been shown to inducedysfunction of the BBB (in particular of endothelial cells), while theiractivation may result from numerous stimuli and is difficult to avoid inin vitro culture (Sumi et al., 2010). Moreover, while models consistingof immortalized cells have been described as showing poor barrierproperties (Lippmann et al., 2013), such models would have, essentiallypractical, advantages. The inventors have surprisingly found that an invitro brain model as described above consisting of human immortalizedcells comprising, in addition to the confluent (mono)layer(s) ofendothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells in onecompartment, is readily usable for in vitro studies related to the BBB,such as assessing permeability across, or effect on the BBB of asubstance, and the targeting and effect to brain parenchyma cells(neurons, astrocytes, microglia) of molecules or microorganisms thathave been able to cross previously the BBB.

The invention therefore comprises devices, especially devices suitablefor use as in vitro models of the BBB, which comprise or consist in acell culture container, separated in two compartments by one or moreconfluent layers of human endothelial cells impermeable to passivediffusion of macromolecules, and comprising human microglial cells in atleast one compartment (the “brain compartment” as defined herein). Inparticular embodiments, the brain compartment comprises other cells, inparticular non-microglial human brain cells, in addition to microglialcells, and microglial cells preferably represent 1.5% to 24% of cells inthe compartment containing them (the brain compartment). In particularembodiments, the non-microglial brain cells are human neuron cellsand/or astrocytes. In preferred embodiments, the endothelial cells, themicroglial cells and/or the other cells are human cells, preferablyimmortalized human cells. The invention provides in particular the useof Ntera-2clD/1 cells in the manufacturing of a BBB and BBBs comprisingsuch cells, as neurons and/or astrocytes in the brain compartment. Theinvention also provides a cell line, SK-N-SHD, which may be grown inconventional cell culture medium and differentiates to neuronal cellswhen seeded in NeuroGRO™ or similar media. This cell line is provided inparticular for seeding the brain compartment of a BBB model, and modelscomprising such cells are also provided. The invention further providesmethods for the preparation of such devices, including optimal culturemedia that would be compatible for all the the cells types that arepresent. The invention also provides uses for such devices, especiallyas an in vitro model of the BBB. Particular embodiments include methodsfor testing the permeability of a test substance across the BBB and/ormethods for testing the toxicity of a test substance on the BBB, saidmethods including the incubation of said test substance in the devicesof the invention. These methods will usually include incubating saidtests substance in a compartment of said device and, after a givenincubation time, i) measuring the quantity of test substance in theother compartment and/or ii) measuring the viability of cells, includingthe endothelial cells and/or the “target cells” (neurons, astrocytes,microglia).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Schematic representation and expression of specificVHH-comprising polypeptides

A. Structure of VHH1, VHH2 and VHH3. RDP=neuron cell targeting peptide(SEQ ID NO:1); VHH (SEQ ID NO:3); StrepTag=Strep tag (SEQ ID NO:5);PDZ-BS=Neurovita peptide (SEQ ID NO:7); delta-PDZ-BS (in VHH3)=Neurovitapeptide devoid of PDZ-BS and thus inactive (SEQ ID NO:9). The black lineconnecting “S” symbols depicts a disulphide bridge between cysteineresidues of the RDP. B. The VHH-comprising polypeptides of the inventionwere produced and purified by immunoaffinity with an anti-strep antibodyand their expression assessed in Western blot. 1=VHH1, 2=VHH2, 3=VHH3.C. PAGE (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) analysis of theNeurovita-Neurocargo construction of the invention (VHH1) indenaturating (lane 1) and non-denaturating (lane 2) conditions, showingthe dimeric presentation of the polypeptide. To the left of lane 1,approximate molecular weights are indicated. To the right of lane 2, themonomeric form is indicated by “M”, and the dimeric form by “D”. D. TheVHH A12 was shown by western blotting not to recognize any brainprotein. Western blotting was performed with VHH A12 or H8/E9 on humanbrain extract (Sg tau 4697; lane 1), a mouse brain extract (Tg 4510;lane 2) and on a purified protein, GFAP, a specific marker of astrocytes(lane 3). E. The VHH A12 was shown by immunohistochemistry not torecognize any brain protein. Immunohistochemical staining was performedusing VHH A12 or AT8 mAb on tg 4510 paraffin-embedded mouse brainsections, shown at 1,25× and 20×. AT8 recognized NFTs present in braintissues. Scale is indicated by the thick black bar.

FIG. 2. Binding of VHH-comprising polypeptides to acetylcholine receptoralpha 7 sub-unit (AchR alpha7)

Binding of VHH-comprising polypeptides to AchR alpha 7 expressing HEK293cells was assessed by FACS after 30 min at 4° C., in the presence ofcompetitors. A. Rabies virus (RABV) competition. Horizontal axis: Cy5intensity (logarithmic scale). Vertical axis: cell counts. The “C” curveis the control curve. In the absence of RABV (“−”, top row), VHH1readily binds cells, while VHH2 (devoid of neuron cell-targetingpeptide) binding is not distinguishable from the control (the graphactually does not allow to distinguish curves of VHH2 and the control).The black arrows show the shift of the peak. In the presence of RABV(“+”, bottom row), a 54% decrease of VHH1 binding is observed. B.alpha-bungarotoxin competition. Axis and arrows as in panel A. Thepresence of alpha-bungarotoxin (“+” curve) does not modify binding ofVHH2, while it reduces binding of VHH1 by 58%. C. Comparison of bindingof VHH1, VHH2, VHH3. Binding of the VHH-comprising polypeptides wastested in the absence (−) or presence (+) of Rabies virus (RABV),expressed in relative units (RU). “**” denotes a p-value <0.004 inStudent's t-test.

FIG. 3. Stimulation of neurite outgrowth by VHH-comprising polypeptides

A. Neurite outgrowth assays for Control cells (Ct) or cells in thepresence of VHH-comprising polypeptides of the invention VHH1, VHH2 andVHH3 (left panel) or the periplasmic (P) or cytoplasmic (C) fractions ofVHH1 expressed in bacteria (right panel) were performed as described inthe Examples section. VHH1 is produced in the cytoplasm as a monomer.Vertical axis: average neurite length per neuron in μm. An ANOVA testshowed a p-value <0.0001 in every case. B. Microscopy imagescorresponding to experiments in panel A (at 72 h incubation). VHH1 inthe cytoplasmic fraction (monomeric) stimulates neurites outgrowth butless than VHH1 in the periplasmic fraction (homodimeric) and does nottrigger large growth cone expansion.

FIG. 4. VHH-comprising polypeptides binding and entry in neurons

A. Binding and entry of VHH-comprising polypeptides to differentiated NScells was assessed by FACS after 30 min at 4° C. Horizontal axis: Alexa488 intensity (logarithmic scale). Vertical axis: cell counts. The “C”curve is the control curve, the “1” curve is the VHH1 curve. VHH1readily binds cells, while VHH2 and VHH3 binding is hardlydistinguishable from the control (the graph actually hardly allows todistinguish curves of VHH2, VHH3 and the control). B. Immunofluorescenceof VHH1 in NS cells treated for 72 h with VHH1. The boxes show theneuron growth cone. VHH1 expands neuronal growth cone C.Immunofluorescence of actin in control (Ct) and VHH1-treated (48 h,VHH1) of differentiated NS cells. Arrowheads show intense stainingcorresponding to actin clearly visible in the original color images.VHH1 stimulates growth cone motility.

FIG. 5. Triggering of axon regeneration post wounding by VHH-comprisingpolypeptides

A.A scratch assay was performed where NT2-N were preincubated without(Ct) or with a VHH-comprising polypeptide (VHH1, VHH2 or VHH3) for 4hours prior to wounding the cells. The assay was read after 72 h ofincubation (i.e. 68 h after wounding). Vertical axis: average percentageof neurons in regeneration. (***) or (****) denotes a p-value <0.0001 ina Student's t-test B. Similar experiment and symbols as in panel A, butthe wounding was performed 1 h before the addition of the VHH-comprisingpolypeptide and the reading 72 h after wounding (i.e. after 71 h ofincubation of the polypeptide). C. Typical images showing regeneration(top row) or lack of regeneration and cell destruction (bottom row) 3days post-scratching.

FIG. 6. In vitro model of the human Minibrain-BBB

A. Schematic representation of in vitro models, shown as a cross-sectionof a cell culture well. Left panel, models of the prior art, devoid ofcells in the brain compartment; right panel: model of the invention. Br:brain compartment; BI: injection compartment, corresponding to the“blood” side of the BBB; E: endothelial cells; A: astrocytes; N:neurons; M: microglial cells. B. Phenotype of minibrain cells, 24 hafter addition of the well containing the endothelial cells. mRNAexpression of several genes was measured in cells forming part of themodel of the invention, in NT2-N cells: 1=tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), amarker of neuron cells, or in NT2-N, NT2-A and CHME cells:2=neurofilament protein H (NEFH), a marker of neuron cells; 3=glialfibrillary astrocytic protein (GFAP), 4=aquaporin 4 (AQP4), and5=glycogen phosphorylase B (PYGB), markers of astrocytes; 6=CD 200receptor (CD200R), a marker of microglial cells. Vertical axis: % ofmRNA expression compared to control.

FIG. 7. Q-PCR Characterisation of endothelial cells in the Minibrain-BBBmodel

mRNA expression of several genes was measured in endothelial cellsforming part of the model of the invention, 24 h after they were addedto the cell culture container containing the brain cells, said modelbeing prepared with either 1.5% (left panels) or 24% (right panels) ofmicroglial cells. Vertical axis: % of mRNA expression compared tocontrol. A. Efflux transporters: 1=ABCB1 protein, 2=ABCG2 protein,3=multidrug-resistance associated protein (ABCC1), 4=ABCC2 protein,5=ABCC4 protein, 6=ABCC5 protein. B. Receptors: 1=low densitylipoprotein receptor (LDLR), 2=low density lipoprotein receptor relatedprotein 1 (LRP1), 3=insulin receptor (INSR), 4=leptin receptor (LEPR),5=basal cell adhesion molecule (LU), 6=CD71 antigen (TFRC), 7=advancedglycosylation end-product receptor (AGER). C. Transporters: 1=stimulatedbyretinoic acid gene 6 protein (STRA6), 2=glucose transporter type 1(SLC2A1), 3=large neutral amino acid transporter 1 (SLC7A5), 4=solutecarrier family 1 protein (SLC1A1), 5=solute carrier family 38 member 5protein (SLC38A5), 6=monocarboxylate transport protein 1 (SLC16A1).STRA6 is highly expressed and LU is overexpressed in all conditions.

FIG. 8. Targeting of VHH-comprising polypeptides to neurons of theMinibrain-BBB model

Fluorescence microscopy assays to determine the capacity of VHH-E9 or ofa VHH-comprising polypeptides of the invention to cross the BBB wereperformed using the device of the invention with 1.5% microglial cells,said VHH-E9 or VHH-comprising polypeptide being incubated for either 3 hor 24 h. VHH-E9 was has been previously shown to cross the BBB in vivo(Li et al., 2012). Ct=control, i.e. secondary antibody only. A.Fluorescence images showing the presence of VHH-E9 (which isA488-conjugated) in the brain compartment after 3 h or 24 h. B.Fluorescence showing the presence of VHH-E9 (A488-conjugated) or of theVHH-comprising polypeptides of the invention VHH1, VHH2, VHH3 (using ananti-strep-tag antibody) in the brain compartment after 3 h or 24 h ofincubation. VHH-E9 and the VHH-comprising polypeptides of the inventionVHH1, VHH2 and VHH3 cross the BBB in vitro model of the invention. C.Fluorescence images showing the targeting of VHH-comprising polypeptidesof the invention (VHH1 or VHH2) to neurons of the brain compartmentafter crossing the BBB. Images obtained as in B, after 24 h incubation,and with simultaneous staining of neurofilament 200 kDa (Nf), which is amarker of neurons. Left images: VHH staining (green channel); rightimages: Nf staining (red channel). The white stars denote neuronsstained with the VHH-comprising polypeptide (i.e. staining is detectedin both channels), while the white dots denote cells with VHH2 stainingand no Nf staining. No such cells are present in the VHH1 images. D. Inthe experiment described in C, the efficiency of neuron targeting wasmeasured for VHH1 and VHH2. Vertical axis: percentage of Nf stainedcells (neuron cells) among cells stained for the correspondingVHH-comprising polypeptide. (***) denotes a p-value <0.0002 in Student'st-test. VHH1 targets neurons after crossing the BBB.

FIG. 9. Sequence alignment of the VHH A12 with VHHs of the prior art

The sequence of the VHH moiety of the VHH-comprising peptides disclosedherein (VHH A12) was aligned with the sequences available from publicdatabases for VHHs (EMBL: uniprotkb, uniprotkb_swissprot,uniprotkb_swissprotsv, uniprotkb_trembl, epop, jpop, kpop, uspop, nrpl1,nrpl2, uniparc). All VHHs with an alignment score higher than 419 areincluded in the alignment. The residues of the CDR regions are in boldfont and double underlined. As can be seen, exemplary features of theVHH of the invention include a GF sequence in positions 5-6 of CDR2,where most VHHs have GG and others have GR; a DV sequence in positions2-3 of CDR1, where position 2 is most often F (R, V and L are allrepresented once) and position 3 is most often S, sometimes G or R; andsimilarly unique features are found in CDR3 and in the frameworkregions.

FIG. 10. Test of the device of the invention with various ratios ofmicroglial cells

A. Microscopy images showing the cells of the brain compartment at theday of seeding (day 0) and two days later (day 2), when the BBB modeldescribed herein is seeded with 1.5% microglial cells (left) or 15%microlglial cells (right). In the BBB seeded with 15% microglial cells,such cells appear to constitute 80% of cells two days after seeding. B.Restrictive paracellular permeability of the BBB model seeded with 1.5%or 15% of microglial cells. Permeability, measured by transendothelialelectrical resistance (TEER, left) and by endothelial permeabilitycoefficient (P_(e), right) is shown for the BBB model seeded with 15%microglial cells at various time points after seeding of endothelialcells (left) and for the model seeded without microglial cells or with1.5% or 15% microglial cells 2 days after seeding of microglial cells(right). As is observed, in the BBB disclosed herein, the presence ofmicroglial cells even at high ratio does not have any deleterious effecton the permeability of the barrier.

FIG. 11. “Mini-minibrain”

The “mini-minibrain” device, i.e. the BBB model disclosed herein wasproduced using the SK-N-SHD cell line as the source of neuron cells inthe brain compartment. A. schematic representation of the device andfluorescence microscopy image of the brain compartment, showing strongB3 tubulin labelling. B. Permeability coefficient (P_(e)) of themini-minibrain measured in the absence (control) or presence ofneurocargo-neurovita, demonstrating that the permeability is not alteredby the VHH-comprising polypeptide disclosed herein. Fluorescencemicroscopy confirmed that in these conditions, neurocargo-neurovita istransported across the BBB and is targeted to the cells of the braincompartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

General Definitions Relating to the Features of the Invention andDisclosure of Embodiments Thereof

Peptide or Polypeptide

A peptide or polypeptide is a macromolecule consisting in amino acidresidues linked by peptide bonds. The terms peptide and polypeptide areused herein interchangeably, although peptide usually designates shortersequences (typically less than 50, or less than 30, or less than 20amino acid residues) while polypeptides usually designates longersequences (typically more than 20, 30 or 50 amino acid residues). Theterm protein is used herein interchangeably with the term polypeptide.The amino acid residues may be selected among the 20 naturally occurringamino acids, and/or among non-naturally occurring amino acids, which areknown to the skilled person. The amino acid residues may be modified,either by naturally-occurring modifications or by non-naturallyoccurring modifications. Naturally-occurring modifications comprisephosphorylation, especially of serine, threonine and/or tyrosineresidues, glycosylation, including N-linked and O-linked glycosylation,ubiquitination, especially of lysine residues, SUMOylation or othermodification by Ubiquitin-like proteins, etc.

In particular embodiments, the polypeptides of the invention arenon-naturally occurring, i.e. they are not found in nature and/or arenot products of nature and are significantly different from products ofnature. Such difference may arise from the amino acid sequence of saidpolypeptide. As an example, a polypeptide consisting in or comprising afusion of at least two polypeptides found in different species,especially species from different families (e.g. a camelid and a virus)will usually have a sequence that is not found in naturally-occurringpolypeptides. As another example, the polypeptide may have at least onemutation in a conserved amino acid residue of its sequence, i.e. theamino acid in a given position may be one that is not found in thisposition in naturally occurring polypeptides. The difference may alsoarise from the presence of non-naturally occurring amino acids. Thedifference may also arise from a modification in at least one amino acidresidue which is a non-naturally occurring modification. The differencemay also arise from the addition of molecular moieties which are notfound appended to naturally-occurring polypeptides. The difference mayalso arise from the presentation of the polypeptide, i.e. themacroscopic format in which the polypeptide is produced, presented orused. In particular, the polypeptide of the invention may be in a formatsuitable for convenient manipulation, e.g. in a test tube or otherartificial container, especially when no biological membrane separatesthe polypeptide from other components in the tube, i.e. direct molecularcontact may occur without delay between the polypeptide and othermolecules and macromolecules added in the container before or after thepolypeptide.

Fusion proteins/fusion polypeptides are terms used herein in their usualmeaning of a polypeptide comprising or consisting of at least twopeptides linked by a peptide bound. In practice, such a fusion is asingle polypeptide with a sequence corresponding to the concatenatedsequences of the peptides comprised in the fusion. When a fusionprotein/polypeptide is described herein, and except where explicitlyexcluded or technically irrelevant (as appreciated by the skilled personin the specific context where it appears), the fusion may comprise aspacer peptide (as described herein) or any number of spacer or otherpeptides intercalated between the peptides explicitly described. As willusually be clear from the context, “a fusion polypeptide comprisingpolypeptide A and polypeptide B” designates herein “a fusion polypeptideof polypeptide A and polypeptide B and optionally other polypeptides(including spacer peptides)” and “a fusion polypeptide consisting ofpolypeptide A and polypeptide B” designates herein “a fusion polypeptideof polypeptide A and polypeptide B and an optional spacer peptide”. Whenstated herein that “a polypeptide A is fused with a polypeptide B”, itis not implied, unless explicitly stated, that both polypeptides arenecessarily fused directly to each other or through a spacer peptide,i.e. the peptides may be separated by any number of peptides and may bein any order. When stated herein that “a polypeptide A is fusedC-terminally to a polypeptide B”, it is not implied, unless explicitlystated, that both polypeptides are fused directly to each other orthrough a spacer peptide, i.e. A and B may be separated by any number ofpeptides and residues, provided A is closer to the C-terminal extremityof the fusion polypeptide. Similarly, “a polypeptide fused N-terminallyto polypeptide B” is closer to the N-terminal extremity of the fusionpolypeptide, but may be separated by any number of peptides and residuesfrom the polypeptide B.

In a first aspect, the invention thus relates to a polypeptide having asequence comprising or consisting of a VHH of a camelid heavy-chainantibody with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, or a variant or a portionthereof as detailed below, wherein said VHH is permeable across theblood-brain barrier and does not recognize any brain antigen and/or doesnot bind specifically, especially through antibody/antigen interaction,to any brain protein.

As will be exposed in more detail below, the invention includespolypeptides comprising a VHH as defined herein, with additionaloptional peptides fused with the VHH and adding desired features. Suchpolypeptides are described throughout the document as VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention. However, for clarity, reference to a VHHof the invention or to a VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention hassometimes been omitted, where in fact the skilled person will appreciatethat both the VHH and VHH-comprising polypeptide may be concerned.Therefore, except where irrelevant technically or logically, when a “VHHof the invention” is mentioned, a “VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention” is also concerned and vice-versa, i.e. one phrase may besubstituted by another. The term polypeptide of the invention issometimes also used to designate both a VHH of the invention and aVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention.

In particular, the description of features relative to the VHH of theinvention also can apply, in most cases, to the VHH-comprisingpolypeptide, including to a polypeptide comprising or consisting of asequence variant or portion of the VHH with SEQ ID NO:3 as definedherein, which variant or portion is also encompassed within theinvention. More specifically, a VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention advantageously has a basic pI, and/or is permeable across theBBB; and/or does not recognize any brain antigen and/or does not bindspecifically to any human brain protein, and/or does not bind throughantibody/antigen interaction to any brain antigen and/or does not bindto any brain antigen through the VHH moiety.

VHH

A VHH is the variable domain of a heavy-chain-only antibody from acamelid (HcAb) or a molecule derived from such a VHH and havingsubstantially the same properties as the original VHH in particular inrespect of antigen recognition capacity (including when having noantigen recognition capacity). All the species of the Camelidea familyhave heavy-chain-only antibodies. In a preferred embodiment, the VHH ofthe invention is obtained from an alpaca (Lama pacos).

The VHH of the invention preferably has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. TheVHH may also have a variant sequence having at least 70% or at least 80%identity, preferably at least 90% identity, more preferably at least 95%identity and even more preferably at least 99% identity with saidsequence. If the VHH of the invention comprises only a portion of thesequence of SEQ ID NO:3, the identity level is calculated on thesequence of said portion. The length of said portion is at least 70%,preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90% and even morepreferably at least 95% of the length of SEQ ID NO:3. In preferredembodiments, the length of said portion is at least 60 amino acids, atleast 80 amino acids, preferably at least 100 amino acids, morepreferably at least 110 amino acids and even more preferably at least115 amino acids. In particular embodiments, the VHH of the inventioncomprises at least the three CDR regions of the VHH with the sequence ofSEQ ID NO:3. In particular embodiments, the VHH comprises a CDR1 withthe sequence IDVINNMA (SEQ ID NO:47), a CDR2 with the sequenceTITSGFSTNY (SEQ ID NO:48) and a CDR3 with the sequence KVHLIRLGAARAYDY(SEQ ID NO:49). However, the skilled person will appreciate that it maybe preferable to introduce mutations in the CDRs e.g. forde-immunization if the VHH is to be administered. Therefore, limitedmutations, which preserve the features of the VHH, are also considered.In a particular embodiment, the CDRs of the VHH have limitedsubstitutions in their amino acid sequence, preferably limited to tworesidues in each CDR and even more preferably to one residue. In aparticular embodiment, the VHH of the invention has at least 70%identity (or more, as detailed above) with SEQ ID NO:3 and comprises aCDR1 with a sequence having no more than 2 mismatches, preferably nomore than one mismatch, with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:47, andpreferably a CDR1 with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:47; a CDR2 with asequence having no more than 2 mismatches, preferably no more than onemismatch, with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:48, and preferably a CDR2 withthe sequence of SEQ ID NO:48; and a CDR3 with a sequence having no morethan 2 mismatches, preferably no more than one mismatch, with thesequence of SEQ ID NO:49, and preferably a CDR3 with the sequence of SEQID NO:49. A mismatch as meant above is preferably an amino acidsubstitution, in particular for CDR1 and CDR2, but may be a deletion orinsertion of a single amino acid. A mismatch as meant above ispreferably a conservative substitution of an amino acid, i.e. asubstitution of an amino acid with another amino acid which the skilledperson would realize has similar features. Portions, as defined above,of such a VHH also constitute particular embodiments. In a particularembodiment, the VHH of the invention comprises framework sequences asdepicted in the sequence alignments of FIG. 9 (the framework sequencescorrespond to the non-underlined amino acids). In particular, the VHH ofthe invention may comprise the framework regions of the VHH with thesequence of SEQ ID NO:3, or with at least 80% identity and preferably atleast 90% identity to the sequence of these framework regions.

The VHH which is a variant of the VHH with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3or a portion thereof shares the essential features of the latter VHHregarding antigen recognition (and in particular does not recognize anybrain antigen), binding of brain proteins (and in particular does notspecifically bind to any human brain protein), permeability across orcapacity to cross the BBB (and in particular is permeable across or isable to cross the BBB, as defined herein) and/or pI (and in particularhas a basic pI as defined herein) and embodiments relating to the VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptides of the invention apply to a VHH which is avariant of the VHH with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or a portionthereof. Tests for these features are readily accessible to the skilledperson and in particular such tests are disclosed herein, in particularin the Examples section. For the avoidance of doubt, although they mightnot be strictly sensu VHH fragments of an HcAb of an antibody from acamelidae, or obtainable from a camelidae, the sequence variant andportion of VHH (including of a sequence variant) are included in theterm VHH as used herein, except where irrelevant technically orlogically. In some embodiments, especially when it has a sequence whichis a variant from SEQ ID NO:3, the VHH of the invention is not anaturally-occurring VHH and is preferably not a naturally-occurringprotein.

A VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention is permeable acrossthe BBB. A substance (e.g. a protein), and in particular a VHH of theinvention, which is permeable across the BBB can be defined as one that,when administered outside the part of the brain which is protected bythe BBB, can be found in the brain in significant quantity after areasonable amount of time. In other terms, which are used herein withthe same meaning as “is permeable across the BBB”, the substance “hasthe capacity to cross the BBB”, or “is able to cross the BBB”, the termpermeability being used herein with the meaning of “capacity to crossthe BBB”. Generally, when tested in vivo, the administration is made byintravenous injection, especially in the carotid of an animal,especially a non-human mammal, in particular a mouse or rodent.

Testing the permeability across the BBB in vivo presents with multipledifficulties. A substance, and in particular a VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention, which is permeable across the BBB cantherefore alternatively be defined by reference to an in vitro BBBmodel. In particular, in the case of in vitro BBB models comprising twocell culture compartments separated by a confluent layer of cellsmimicking the BBB, a substance which is permeable across the BBB may bedefined as one that, when applied to and/or incubated in one compartmentfor a reasonable amount of time, is found in significant quantity in theother compartment.

In the definitions above, amounts higher than 0.01% or 0.1%, preferablyhigher than 0.5%, 1% or 1.5% and even more preferably higher than 2.5%,5% or 10% of the initially applied and/or administered substance can beconsidered, for example, significant quantity. Especially for an in vivodetermination of whether a substance is permeable, it may provedifficult or impossible to quantify the amount of substance that haspassed the BBB. Since, in particular in vivo, the BBB very efficientlyprevents penetration in the brain of most molecules (of sufficientsize), the skilled person will appreciate that, with most conventionalcellular and/or molecular detection methods, the detection of anyquantity of such substance in the brain (or the compartment mimickingthe brain) can be considered significant and is a sign of permeability.It will also be appreciated that trace amounts (e.g. amounts detectableonly by highly sensitive techniques such as mass spectrometry) of thesubstance that have crossed the BBB, especially if detected using an invitro model, will usually not be considered significant.

Given the usually observed kinetics of penetration across the BBB ofpermeable proteins, the skilled person will appreciate that a reasonableamount of time in this context is usually of the order of magnitude oftens of minutes to a few hours. Therefore, the amount of time betweenadministration and testing for the presence of the substance in thebrain (or compartment mimicking the brain) can range, for example from10 min to 12 hours. Typical times for testing in vivo range preferablyfrom 30 min to 12 hours, preferably 30 min, 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 4 h, 8 hor 12 h. Typical times for testing in vitro range preferably from 10 minto 4 hours, preferably 10 min, 30 min, 45 min, 1 h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h or4 h. Longer times are also contemplated, however, factors such as thehalf-life of the substance may influence the results dramatically whenextended incubation times are used, since the substance may be degradedbefore it is tested and thus may remain undetected, although iteffectively crossed the BBB.

In particular embodiments, when tested with the in vitro modelsdescribed in Weksler et al., 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 8,084,254 B2 or WO2006/056879 and/or with the in vitro models described in Bicker et al.,2014 or EP 1 964 915 A1 and/or with the novel in vitro BBB modeldescribed herein, more than 0.1% of the VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention which was initially incubated is found inthe “brain” compartment after 4 hours of incubation. In preferredembodiments, more than 0.5%, preferably more than 1% is found after 4hours of incubation. In further preferred embodiments, more than 0.5%,preferably more than 1% is found after 1 hour of incubation. In yetfurther preferred embodiments, more than 1.5% preferably more than 2.5%is found after 1 hour of incubation. In particular embodiments, whentested using any of these models containing brain cells, in particularneuron cells, in the “brain” compartment, the VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention is readily detected in immunofluorescenceexperiments in said brain cells, in particular neuron cells, after 3hours of incubation of 10 pg of the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptideapplied in the other compartment.

The permeability across the BBB of the entire construct (i.e. the entireVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention, including the “cargo”effector peptide if any) is usually the advantageous feature inapplications. However, since the permeability of a fraction of theentire construct, e.g. the VHH or the VHH-comprising polypeptideexcluding the effector peptide, is relevant to the permeability of theentire construct, the permeability may alternatively, or in addition, beassessed (measured and/or calculated) for the entire construct or afraction thereof, especially the VHH and/or VHH-comprising polypeptideexcluding the effector peptide.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the polypeptide, inparticular the VHH or the VHH-comprising polypeptide is basic.

In particular embodiments, the polypeptide of the invention is basic. Aprotein, particularly a VHH, is said to be basic when its isoelectricpoint (pI) is higher than 7, more preferably equal to or higher than 8and even more preferably equal to or higher than 8.5 or equal to orhigher than 9. The pI of a protein is defined as the pH at which theprotein carries no net charge (i.e. the negative charges compensates thepositive charges). Methods to determine the pI of a protein, eitherthrough experimental determination or through theoretical calculationbased on the sequence of the protein, are known to the skilled person.In particular, the pI can be measured experimentally using isoelectricfocusing. Alternatively, or in addition, the pI may be calculated usinga computer program such as the EMBOSS iep software, available from theEuropean Bioinformatics Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton, CambridgeCB10 1SD, UK and/or the Compute PI tool from the Expasy software,available from the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, QuartierSorge—Batiment Genopode, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Since the pI of theentire construct (i.e. the entire VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention, including the “cargo” effector peptide if any), as well asthe pI of a fraction thereof, e.g. the VHH or the VHH-comprisingpolypeptide excluding the effector peptide, is relevant to thepermeability of the entire construct across the BBB, the pI mayalternatively, or in addition, be assessed (measured and/or calculated)for the entire construct or a fraction thereof, especially the VHHand/or the VHH-comprising polypeptide excluding the effector peptide.

In particular embodiments, the VHH of the invention, possibly excludingother peptides forming the VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention,has a pI equal to or higher than 8, more preferably equal to or higherthan 8.5 and even more preferably equal to or higher than 9. Inparticular embodiments, the VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention,preferably including the cargo peptide, has a pI equal to or higher than8, more preferably equal to or higher than 8.5 and even more preferablyequal to or higher than 9.

A peptide with a high pI is likely to bind cells non-specifically, thuspreventing its targeting to specific cells. In a particular embodiment,the VHH of the invention, possibly excluding other peptides forming theVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention, has a pI equal to or lowerthan 11, more preferably equal to or lower than 10.5 and even morepreferably equal to or lower than 10. In particular embodiments, theVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention, preferably including thecargo peptide, has a pI equal to or lower than 12, more preferably equalto or lower than 11 and even more preferably equal to or higher than10.5. Preferred ranges for the pI of the VHH of the invention, possiblyexcluding other peptides forming the VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention are 8.5-11, 8.5-10, 9-10 and 9-10.5. Preferred ranges for thepI of the VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention are 8.5-12,8.5-11, 9-11, 9-10.5, 9.5-10.5 and 10-10.5.

The inventors provide herein a VHH obtained from an alpaca. This VHH hasthe sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and is encoded by a polynucleotide with thesequence of SEQ ID NO:4. This VHH was shown by the inventors not torecognize any brain antigen, to have a basic pI (pI>9), to be permeableacross the BBB at least in the form of VHH-comprising polypeptides asdetailed in the examples section (in particular VHH1, VHH2, VHH3).

In a particular embodiment, the polypeptide of the invention targetsneuron cells. In particular the polypeptide is a fusion polypeptidewherein the VHH is fused to a molecule that targets neuron cells.

The VHH of the invention may be fused with a neuron cell-targetingpeptide. Some peptides have the capacity to target a polypeptide of theinvention to specific cell types, i.e. the polypeptide comprising themis preferably associated to and/or transported to and/or bound tospecific cells. In particular, such peptides targeting neurons are knownin the art. Such peptides may originate from a Rabies virus G protein.Such peptides, with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 are within the scope ofthe invention to illustrate them. Variants of these sequences are alsoencompassed within the invention as neuron cell-targeting peptideprovided they exhibit the same targeting properties and are derived fromthe above sequences by point mutation(s) affecting 10% or less of aminoacid residues, for example by conservative substitution of amino acidresidues. Other suitable neuron cell-targeting peptides derived from aRabies virus G protein include peptides with a sequence chosen among thegroup of SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33 and SEQ ID NO:34.

In particular embodiments, the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention is targeted to neuron cells, in particular is targeted toneuron cells in the device of the invention after crossing the layer ofendothelial cells. The targeting may be reflected by the presence ofsaid polypeptide at the surface of and/or inside neuron cells, eitherexclusively or in higher quantities relatively to other cell typesand/or polypeptide in solution (not bound to cells).

Of note, in the art, as discussed below, the introduction of a cysteinein a chimeric construction comprising a VHH would usually be avoided inorder to preserve the monomeric presentation of the VHH, thought to berequired for its activity. However, the cysteine in neuroncell-targeting peptides derived from a Rabies virus G protein isrequired to maintain its biological activity (Lentz et al., 1987).Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the VHH-comprising fusionpolypeptide of the invention comprises a peptide, in particular such aneuron cell-targeting peptide, comprising a cysteine residue, inparticular such a peptide fused N-terminally to the VHH moiety, and inparticular such a cysteine residue is found 5 to 25, preferably 10 to 20and most preferably 16 residues N-terminally to the first (N-terminal)residue of the VHH moiety.

According to a particular embodiment, the polypeptide of the inventionhas dimerization capacity, in particular homodimerization capacity andpreferably wherein homodimerization results from disulphide bridge(s).

The VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention may havedimerization capacity. The invention thus encompasses a VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptide as a dimer construct. A VHH obtained fromCamelidea itself usually cannot form dimers, in particular homodimers,which is thought to be one of their characteristics and requiredfeatures to exert biological function. Therefore, the skilled persondesigning a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptides would usually design itto preserve its monomeric structure. However, in the case of thepresently disclosed VHH-comprising polypeptide, the inventors havesurprisingly found that the biological activity differed betweenmonomeric and dimeric forms (presentations) and that the latter waspreferable.

Methods to allow for the formation of dimers are known to the skilledperson. In particular, such methods comprise the addition ofdimerization domains, especially homodimerization domains of knowndimeric proteins. Alternatively (or in addition), the presence ofcysteine residues in the sequence of the VHH (e.g. by mutation ofanother amino acid in the sequence) or the presence of cysteines in oneor more peptides bound to said VHH in the polypeptide of the inventionmay enable the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention toform dimers, especially homodimers. The skilled person will appreciatethat said cysteines must be comprised in a region of the sequence suchthat they are accessible to binding by another polypeptide when thepolypeptide is in its folded conformation. In particular embodiments,the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention is provided as adimer and in particular homodimer. In particular embodiments, the VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention comprises one or morecysteine residues which can form intermolecular disulphide bonds. Inparticular embodiments, the dimer-forming (especially homodimer-forming)cysteine(s) lies in the N-terminal extremity of the VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptide, and in particular it/they lie(s) in apeptide N-terminal to the VHH and in particular in a neuron-targetingpeptide fused N-terminally to the VHH, such as the RDP disclosed herein.

According to a particular embodiment, the polypeptide of the inventionis a VHH-comprising polypeptide and accordingly is a fusion polypeptidecomprising any of the VHH defined herein, possibly fused with themolecules disclosed herein and comprising additionally a fused effectorpolypeptide.

The VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention may comprise a neurovitapeptide. The VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptides (particularly comprisinga neuron cell-targeting peptide and/or a tag as described herein) of theinvention was designed to be used as a vehicle to transport a neurovitapeptide (also called herein cargo or effector molecule or peptide)across the blood-brain barrier (and possibly to target the cargo peptideto a given cell, cellular compartment, . . . ).

The preferred linkage to the VHH-comprising polypeptide of the inventionacting as vehicle is through the generation of a fusion polypeptidecomprising the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide vehicle and theeffector peptide. The term VHH-comprising polypeptide thereforeincludes, except where excluded by the context or technicallyirrelevant, and the invention encompasses, fusion polypeptidescomprising a VHH of the invention and a neurovita peptide. In preferredembodiments, the cargo peptide has less than 40, less than 30 andpreferably less than 20 amino acids. The skilled person will alsoappreciate that the pI of the cargo peptide may influence the pI of thefusion polypeptide comprising the vehicle and cargo. As stated elsewhereherein, the resulting VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention ispreferably basic.

Peptides derived from the G protein of a Rabies virus, which have aneffect on the survival and/or protection and /or motility of neuronsand/or which promote neurite outgrowth are cargo molecules according tothe invention. They have been disclosed in WO 2013/068430. Thesepeptides are disclosed as cytoplasmic domains of peptides, saidcytoplasmic domains consisting of a cytoplasmic domain upstream of theMAST2-binding domain and a MAST-2 binding domains in said publication.The term “Neurovita peptides” as used herein designates such acytoplasmic peptide, comprising or consisting of a MAST2-binding domainand a sequence upstream thereof (i.e. N-terminal, the MAST2-bindingdomain being fused C-terminally to said upstream sequence). Inparticular embodiments, a Neurovita peptide is a 30 to 55 amino acidpeptide derived from the cytoplasmic domain of a G protein of a Rabiesvirus, comprising the MAST2-binding domain of said G protein and havingan effect on the survival, protection and/or mobility of neurons and/orwhich promotes neurite outgrowth. An example of such a peptide to carryout the invention is the peptide with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:7. Suchpeptides are preferably fused C-terminally to the VHH of the invention,and preferably to any other peptide forming part of the VHH-comprisingpolypeptide, so that the MAST2-binding domain is at the C-terminalextremity of the VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention. Inparticular embodiments, the VHH-comprising polypeptide of the inventioncomprises fusion polypeptides comprising VHH and a Neurovita peptide,preferably fused C-terminally to the VHH, more preferably at theC-terminal extremity of the polypeptide of the invention.

The Neurovita peptides, and in particular the preferred Neurovitapeptide with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, have a basic pI. Inparticular, the pI of the Neurovita may be 12 or more. The skilledperson would appreciate that a peptide with such a basic pI is likely tobind cells non specifically, and would therefore not consider using sucha peptide in particular if it is meant to be targeted to specific cells.The inventors have found, however, that when used in fusion with a VHHwhich is less basic, in particular with a pI in the 9.5 to 10 range andparticularly with pI=9.86, no non-specific binding of the VHH-comprisingpolypeptide, having a pI in the 10-10.5 range, and particularly withpI=10.36, is observed, and the polypeptide is specifically targeted. Inparticular embodiments, the Neurovita peptide has a pI of 12 or more. Inparticular embodiments, the VHH-comprising polypeptide, comprising aNeurovita peptide, has a pI of 12 or less, preferably of 11 or less,more preferably of 10.5 or less, and in particular a pI comprised in the8.5 to 11 range, preferably in the 9 to 10.5 range and most preferablyin the 10-10.5 range. In particular, the VHH-comprising polypeptide,comprising a Neurovita peptide, has a pI of 10.36.

Neurovita peptides may carry any of the MAST2-binding domains disclosedin pages 12-22 of WO 2013/068430 Al, and each group disclosed thereinconstitutes a group from which to select the MAST2-binding domain of theNeurovita peptide of particular embodiments. Similarly, theMAST2-binding domain of Neurovita peptides in particular embodiments ofthe present invention may be selected among the the MAST2-binding domainof Neurovita peptides defined in particular embodiments in p. 12-22 ofWO 2013/068430. In preferred embodiments, VHH-comprising polypeptidecomprises the Neurovita peptide having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:7. TheMAST2-binding domain of Neurovita peptides individually disclosed inpages 15, 16, 18, 20 and 21 of WO 2013/068430 each are included in apreferred embodiment. In particular, the MAST-2 binding domain of theneurovita polypeptide of the invention consists of a sequence, whosesize is from 11 to 13 residues, the first two residues of which are Sand W, and the fourth last residues of which are Q, T, R and L (these 4last amino acid residues represent the so-called PDZ-BS).

The MAST-2 binding domain is defined according to one of the followinggroups, knowing that, whatever the group, the first two amino acidresidues of the MAST-2 binding domain are S and W and the last fouramino acid residues of the MAST-2 binding domain are Q, T, R and L: (A)in a first group, the MAST-2 binding domain consists of a sequence,whose size is 11 residues, the first two residues of which are S and W,and the last four residues of which are Q, T, R and L, consisting ofSWX1X2X3X4X5QTRL, wherein each of X1, X2, X3, X4 and X5 is any aminoacid residue (SEQ ID NO:21); (B) in a second group, the MAST-2 bindingdomain consists of a sequence, whose size is 11 residues, the first tworesidues of which are S and W, and the last four residues of which areQ, T, R and L, which may be obtained by deletion of two amino acidresidues, consecutive or not, from the SWESHKSGGQTRL sequence (SEQ IDNO:19) (C) In a third group, the MAST-2 binding domain consists of asequence, whose size is 12 residues, the first two residues of which areS and W, and the last four residues of which are Q, T, R and L,consisting of SWX1X2X3X4X5X6QTRL, wherein each of X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 andX6 is any amino acid residue (SEQ ID NO:22); (D) in a fourth group, theMAST-2 binding domain consists of a sequence, whose size is 12 residues,the first two residues of which are S and W, and the last four residuesof which are Q, T, R and L, which may be obtained by deletion of oneamino acid residue from the SWESHKSGGQTRL sequence (SEQ ID NO:19) and(E) In a fifth group, the MAST-2 binding domain consists of a sequence,whose size is 13 residues, the first two residues of which are S and W,and the last four residues of which are Q, T, R and L, consisting ofSWX1X2X3X4X5X6X7QTRL, wherein each of X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7, isany amino acid residue (SEQ ID NO:23).

The sequence of the binding domain upstream of the MAST2-binding domainin the neurovita peptide of the invention can be any of the sequencesdisclosed in pages 22 to 24 of WO 2013/068430 for the equivalent purposein said application. In particular, such a sequence may contain 20 to 40amino acid residues, preferably 25 to 45 residues, and particularly 31residues. In particular embodiments, the sequence of the cytoplasmicdomain upstream of the MAST-2 binding domain is a fragment of thecytoplasmic domain of a rabies virus G protein, in particular a fragmentof the cytoplasmic domain of a G protein from an attenuated rabies virusstrain or a fragment of the cytoplasmic domain of a G protein from avirulent rabies virus strain; more particularly, the sequence of thecytoplasmic domain upstream of the MAST-2 binding domain consists of thefollowing sequence RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIIS (SEQ ID NO:17) or avariant thereof as described in the above-cited publication, inparticular RRVNRSEPTQLNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIIS (SEQ ID NO:18).

Particular examples of neurovita polypeptides of the invention areselected in the group consisting of:

(Neurovita 1) (SEQ ID NO: 20)RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWESHKSGGQTRL; (Neurovita 2) (SEQ ID NO: 24) RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVHGGQTRL;(Neurovita 3)  (SEQ ID NO: 7)RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVHGQQTRL; (SEQ ID NO: 25)RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVATQQTRL; (SEQ ID NO: 26)RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVYTGQTRL; (SEQ ID NO: 27)RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVHTGQTRL; (SEQ ID NO: 28)RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVHTQQTRL; (SEQ ID NO: 29)RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVAGGQTRL; (SEQ ID NO: 30)RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWAEAQHTQQTRL; and (SEQ ID NO: 31)RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVHASGGQTRL.

In particular embodiments, the neurovita peptide of the VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention may also be rendered inactive by thedeletion of its PDZ-BS sequence (the last four amino acid residues ofthe MAST2-binding domain). Such a neurovita peptide has either reducedor no biological activity and may be used e.g. as a reference to testthe specific effect of a neurovita peptide in a VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention. A particular inactivated neurovita peptideis NV delta-PDZ-BS with the sequence ofRRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVHGQ SEQ ID NO:9).

In a particular embodiment, the polypeptide of the inventionadditionally comprises a tagging peptide and/or additionally comprises apeptide spacer, in particular inserted between the VHH and the effectorpolypeptide, and/or additionally comprises an affinity peptide.

The VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention may compriseadditional peptides such as tags or spacers. The skilled person willappreciate that the inclusion in the VHH-comprising polypeptide ofpeptides with specific functions, in addition to the targeting peptideand/or effector peptide described herein, can be advantageous. Thesecomprise e.g. spacer peptides, tagging peptides and affinity peptides(and peptides having the features of both spacer peptides and taggingpeptides). The VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention may compriseone or more of such peptides. Such peptides are well known to theskilled person and only a brief description is provided herein. Theskilled person will appreciate that the choice of peptide and of theirposition in the fusion protein should be made so that essential featuresof the fusion polypeptide in respect of the invention are notsignificantly altered. In particular, the pI should preferably remainbasic, wherever possible the additional peptide should not modify thesize range of the resulting polypeptide, and the addition of the peptideshould not result in aggregation or sequestration (e.g. by binding to aspecific cellular component) of the resulting VHH-comprisingpolypeptide.

A spacer peptide consists in a few amino acids which are intercalatedbetween two defined peptides or polypeptides in a fusion protein,usually in order to allow each peptide/polypeptide to fold independentlyof the other, or relatively independently, i.e. in order to allow eachpeptide/polypeptide to adopt a conformation similar to its conformationwhen it is not fused to the other peptide/polypeptide. A spacer peptidein may consist in a single amino acid, or a stretch of 2, 3, 4 or 5amino acids, or 6 to 10 amino acids or 11 to 20 amino acids.

A tagging peptide, is usually used to facilitate purification and/ordetection of the fusion polypeptide. In some cases, the tagging peptideis detectable by itself (e.g. fluorescent tags such as GFP) while inother cases the tagging peptide is detectable because it specificallybinds a detectable molecule (in turn, the detectable molecule may bedirectly detectable, e.g. fluorescent, or it may be detected by specificbinding to it of a detectable molecule, i.e. a scaffold of molecules maybe required for detection). If used for purification and/or indirectdetection, such a peptide is usually designed (or found) to have a highaffinity to a readily available molecule. Such peptides are oftenderived from a species unrelated to the species where the polypeptidesis intended to be used to avoid any cross reaction, especially duringdetection. The molecule binding the tagging peptide may be selected forits detectability and/or for ease of immobilization and/or recovery inpurification processes. Common tagging peptide include HA-tag (a shortpeptide from human influenza hemagglutinin), Flag-tag, His-tag(comprising at least 6 histidine residues) and the Strep-tag (comprisingeight amino acids and which is readily bound by commercially availableStrep-tactin and antibodies). In particular embodiments, theVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention comprises a Strep-tag withthe sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, in particular fused C-terminally to theVHH, particularly intercalated between the VHH and effector peptide.

In a particular embodiment, the invention thus relates to aVHH-comprising polypeptides which comprises the fusion of an RDPsequence, such as SEQ ID NO:1, a VHH sequence, such as SEQ ID NO:3, atag sequence, such as SEQ ID NO:5 and a Neurovita sequence, such as SEQID NO:7.

In a particular embodiment, the polypeptide of the invention has thesequence of SEQ ID NO:11 or of SEQ ID NO:45.

It should be noted that, while the fusion of a peptide presents someadvantages in particular in terms of ease of production, the functionsof a tagging peptide may also be obtained by linking a non-peptidicmoiety to a polypeptide and the use of such moiety is contemplatedherein and the invention encompasses polypeptides bound to suchmoeities. The term “tag” therefore comprises tagging peptides as well asnon-peptidic moieties with similar functions. The skilled person willappreciate that the term “tag” specifically in the context of apolypeptide should be interpreted as “tagging peptide”, while incontexts where it is technically relevant reference to a “taggingpeptide” must be understood to comprise a non-peptidic tag.

Methods for the preparation of VHH and VHH-comprising polypeptides ofthe invention are disclosed herein and are part of the invention. Inparticular embodiments, the method for producing a VHH of the inventioncomprises the steps of:

-   -   A—obtaining a VHH, in particular with the sequence of SEQ ID        NO:3 or a sequence variant thereof or a portion thereof as        defined herein, or a polynucleotide encoding such VHH;    -   B—designing or selecting a polypeptide or a subset of        polypeptides consisting of or comprising said VHH which has/have        a basic pI and optionally designing or obtaining a [subset of]        polynucleotide(s) encoding said polypeptide(s) and/or selecting        a VHH which does not recognize any brain antigen, or does not        bind any brain protein, in particular humain brain antigens and        proteins;    -   C—designing or selecting a polypeptide or a subset of        polypeptides consisting of or comprising said VHH which is/are        permeable across the BBB and optionally designing or obtaining a        [subset of] polynucleotide(s) encoding said polypeptide(s).

Steps B, and C may alternatively be carried out in a different order.

A—Obtaining a VHH, with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or a sequencevariant thereof or a portion thereof as defined herein, or apolynucleotide encoding such VHH, can be achieved according to methodsknown to the skilled person. In particular embodiments, obtaining such aVHH comprises the steps of:

-   -   obtaining the cDNAs with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, optionally        obtaining fragments, in particular PCR fragments comprising        portions of said cDNAs, especially portions comprising the CDR        regions of the VHH with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, using said        cDNAs as templates, optionally introducing mutations in said        fragments, e.g. by introducing the desired mutations in the PCR        primers;    -   cloning said fragments, in particular PCR fragments in vectors,        in particular in plasmids suitable for expression in bacteria,        optionally fusing said fragment in frame together with nucleic        acid sequences encoding peptides, e.g. neuron cell-targeting        peptides, effector peptides, and/or tagging/spacer peptides as        described herein;    -   expressing the encoded polypeptide, especially fusion        polypeptide in determined cells.

Subsequent selection steps may be performed in either order. With theobjective to minimize cost and maximize success rate, the skilled personwill appreciate that the more high-throughput selection steps shouldusually be performed before lower-throughput steps (as the subset willtend to comprise less possible clones after each selection step), andthat the selection steps relative to the less frequent feature should beperformed before selection steps for more common features (as it is morelikely to find a common feature in a clone selected for a rare featurethan the other way around). It will also appear that more commonfeatures, or features that are easier to select for, that increase theprobability of finding a less common feature (or one less easy to selectfor) should be selected for first. Accordingly, it will appear to theskilled person that the selection for pI should usually be performedbefore the selection for permeability through the blood-brain barrier.

It must also be reiterated that, where relevant and not explicitlyexcluded, a VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention can besubstituted for a VHH of the invention in the described methods. Inparticular, the selection steps below may be performed on aVHH-comprising polypeptide instead of a VHH. The selection step may alsobe performed both on the VHH and on the VHH-comprising polypeptide inthe course of preparing such a polypeptide. In a particular embodiment,a subset of VHH is selected that have a basic pI, then a subset ofVHH-comprising polypeptides as described herein is prepared, that eachcomprises one of the selected VHH, preferably with the same additionalpeptides and/or modifications, and only then a step of selecting aVHH-comprising polypeptide that is permeable across the BBB isperformed. The skilled person will appreciate that the step of selectinga VHH that does not recognize a brain antigen will usually be performedwith the VHH alone (i.e. not fused to another peptide) and will usuallynot need to be repeated after modification, including fusion of otherpeptides, as the modifications are usually unlikely to generate thecapacity for the VHH in the VHH-comprising peptide to recognize a brainantigen. In contrast, the skilled person will appreciate that, while itmay be advantageous to include a step of selecting a VHH alone that ispermeable across the BBB, further modifications of the VHH to generatethe VHH-comprising polypeptide are likely to modify permeability so thatis appears optional to perform the selection on the VHH alone, whilethis step will advantageously be performed (or performed again) on theVHH-comprising polypeptide.

B—Selecting or designing a polypeptide consisting of or comprising saidVHH that has a basic PI can be performed by calculating the pI from thesequence of said VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide, or by in vitroexperiments such as isoelectric focusing. The skilled person can easilyderive methods to test the pI of a polypeptide produced in bacteria invitro. The preferred method, however, is based on the sequence of thepolypeptide. The pI can be calculated according to algorithms known tothe skilled person such as the EMBOSS iep software, available from theEuropean Bioinformatics Institute, Genome Campus, Hinxton, CambridgeCB10 1SD, UK and/or the Compute PI tool from the Expasy software,available from the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, QuartierSorge—Batiment Genopode, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Selecting a VHH which does not recognize any brain antigen, inparticular any human brain antigen, or which does not specifically bindany brain protein, in particular any human brain protein, may beperformed using methods known to the skilled person. As the skilledperson would appreciate, an antigen which does not recognize any humanbrain antigen, or which does not bind any human brain protein, may beunderstood as one which does recognize an antigen or bind a proteinwhich is found solely, or in majority, in the brain, vs. human cells ofother origin. In particular, a VHH which recognizes an antigen outsidethe human brain may correspond to this definition. It will also appearto the skilled person that such absence of recognition and/or bindingmay be understood as the absence of significant recognition and/orbinding, i.e. a recognition or binding the skilled person would considerbiochemically relevant. In particular, said significant recognitionand/or binding may be relative to antigens or proteins from non-brainorigin, which may be formulated as a specific recognition/binding of/toa human brain antigen/protein. In particular embodiments, the VHH of theinvention does not produce specific staining in western blotting assaysusing whole human brain extract (Sg tau 4697), mouse brain extracts (Tg4510) and/or GFAP, in particular in conditions allowing brain-antigenspecific VHHs to produce staining, in particular using the westernblotting procedures disclosed herein and in particular using the VHHfused with a Strep tag. In particular embodiments, the VHH of theinvention does not produce specific staining in immunohistochemistryassays using Tg 4510 mouse brain tissue, in conditions where a brainantigen-specific antibody produces significant staining, in particularin the conditions disclosed herein. In particular embodiments, the VHHof the invention does not produce specific staining by western blottingor by immunohistochemistry as above.

C—Selecting or designing a polypeptide consisting of or comprising saidVHH that is permeable across the BBB will usually be performed initiallythrough in vitro experiments. Indeed, no known sequence features orother directly accessible parameters of the polypeptide allows topredict the permeability across the BBB, while direct testing in vivowould likely appear unreasonable in terms of ethics and cost. Methodsthat allow to test for the permeability of the VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention comprise methods mentioned above in thedescription of the VHH of the invention. In particular, these methodscomprise the novel method of testing the permeability across the BBBdisclosed in the present application which makes use of the novel devicedeveloped by the inventors and also disclosed herein. This method oftesting, disclosed in more detail below, is encompassed in theinvention, both by itself as a “testing method of the invention” and asa step in particular embodiments of the method of preparing apolypeptide of the invention. In selecting a VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention, the skilled person will find guidance touse the method in the present application. In particular, specifictechnical features (including experimental conditions) of the methodusing the device of the invention are disclosed in the examples sectionbelow and constitute preferred embodiments of the method to prepare aVHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention. In using methods ofthe prior art, in particular based on devices of the prior art withsimilar presentation as the device of the invention, the skilled personwill appreciate that similar experimental conditions are likely to besuccessful and make use of the teachings herein to perform the step ofselecting a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide that is permeable acrossthe BBB.

The invention also relates to a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptidedisclosed herein and its components (VHH, peptide targeting molecule,neurovita, tag, spacer), in particular a polynucleotide comprising thesequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or a portion of said sequence.

Methods of obtaining nucleic acids encoding the VHH with the sequence ofSEQ ID NO:3 are known to the skilled person as well as methods ofobtaining nucleic acids encoding a portion of said VHH, a VHH with atleast 80%, 90%, or 95% identity with said VHH, fusion proteinscomprising said VHH (VHH-comprising polypeptides of the invention). Saidnucleic acids encoding a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention, and said methods of obtaining said nucleic acids, areencompassed in the invention. In particular embodiments, the nucleicacids encoding the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the inventioncomprise or consist of:

-   -   the sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or the sequence of another nucleic        acid encoding a VHH of the invention;    -   optionally, the sequence of a nucleic acid encoding a neuron        cell-targeting peptide, preferably the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;    -   optionally the sequence of a nucleic acid encoding a tagging        peptide, preferably the sequence of SEQ ID NO:6;    -   optionally, the sequence of a nucleic acid encoding a neurovita        peptide, preferably the sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 or the sequence        of any of the neurovita peptide-encoding nucleic acids disclosed        in WO2013/068430, particularly on pages 32-35, or the sequence        of an inactive neurovita peptide, preferably with the sequence        of SEQ ID NO:10.

In preferred embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding a neuroncell-targeting peptide, if present, is in 5′ of the nucleic acidencoding the VHH, and/or the nucleic acid encoding the neurovitapeptide, if present, is in 3′ of the nucleic acid encoding the VHH. Inpreferred embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding the VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention has a sequence selectedamong SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16 or thesequence of SEQ ID NO:46. In particular embodiments, the nucleic acidsencoding a VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention exclude nucleicacids found in nature, in particular exclude nucleic acids found incamelids, in particular nucleic acids consisting of a nucleic acidencoding a VHH obtained or obtainable from a camelid. In particularembodiments, the sequence of the nucleic acid encoding a VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention comprises, in addition tothe sequence of a nucleic acid encoding a VHH, at least two nucleotides,preferably at least three nucleotides and more preferably at least 9,18, 30, 60 or 120 in nucleotides, forming a sequence which is not foundin camelid and/or otherwise in nature. In particular embodiments, thesequence of the nucleic acid encoding a VHH or VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention comprises, in-frame and immediatelyadjacent to the sequence of a nucleic acid encoding a VHH, a stop codonforming a sequence which is not found in camelid and/or otherwise innature and is significantly and/or functionally different from such acamelid or natural sequence, since in particular it encodes a proteinwhich is truncated relative to naturally-occurring proteins. Inparticular embodiments, the sequence of the nucleic acid encoding a VHHor VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention comprises in its codingsequence a codon which is not found in camelids.

The invention is also directed to vectors comprising nucleic acidsencoding a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention. Suchvectors are known to the skilled person and include expression vectorsfor expression of the VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide in bacteria(including E. coli), or other prokaryotic cells or cell lines or yeastor other eukaryotic cells or cell lines, especially mammalian cells orcell lines and also include as cloning vectors, including plasmids andphagemids, designed for ease of genetic engineering (optimized e.g. forthe cloning and/or maintenance of nucleic acid, especially cDNA,libraries, for the generation of nucleic acids encoding fusion proteins,. . . ). Particularly preferred vectors of the invention (or for use inthe method of producing the polypeptide of the invention) are plasmidscomprising a peptide signal such as ompA that direct the expressedprotein into the periplasmic space and is cleaved off during thetranslocation process, such as the pASK-IBA2 plasmid available from IBAGmbH, Rudolf-Wissell-Str. 28, D-37079 Goettingen, Germany. The vectorsof the invention also comprise virus-derived vectors, includinglentiviral vectors. In particular embodiments, the vectors comprisingnucleic acids encoding a VHH of the invention exclude phagemid vectorsencoding a VHH obtained or obtainable from a camelid.

The invention is also directed to cells and cell lines comprising a VHHor VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention, a nucleic acid of theinvention encoding such a polypeptide or a vector of the inventioncomprising such a nucleic acid. These cells may be selected in the groupof bacteria (including E. coli) or other prokaryotic cells or cell linesor yeast or other eukaryotic cells or cell lines, especially mammaliancells or cell lines.

The invention is also directed to compositions comprising any of thefollowing compounds: a VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of theinvention, a nucleic acid of the invention encoding such a polypeptide,a vector of the invention comprising such a nucleic acid and/or a cellor cell line of the invention comprising such a polypeptide, nucleicacid and/or vector. Compositions comprising a large number of differentVHH, or VHH-encoding sequences, may not carry the technical effect ofthe invention, especially when a fraction of said VHH do not have thefeature of the VHH of the invention. Therefore, in particularembodiments, the composition of the invention comprises a limited numberof different VHH or VHH-comprising polypeptides, and/or nucleic acidsencoding a limited number of different VHH, wherein a limited number isno more than 100, preferably no more than 20 or 10 and even morepreferably no more than 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1. In a preferred embodiment, acomposition of the invention is a solution comprising a VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention and comprising no more than1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 different VHH and/or VHH-comprising polypeptides. Thecited compounds are in association with a physiologically acceptablevehicle suitable for in vivo administration in the composition.

The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions, suitablefor in vivo administration, in particular for intravenous injection orophthalmic administration, comprising any of the following compounds: aVHH or VHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention, a nucleic acid ofthe invention encoding such a polypeptide, a vector of the inventioncomprising such a nucleic acid and/or a cell or cell line of theinvention comprising such a polypeptide, nucleic acid and/or vector,wherein said compound is in association with pharmaceutically acceptableadjuvants and/or solvents and/or carriers. Compositions suitable for invivo administration can be prepared according to methods known to theskilled person. In particular embodiments, the pharmaceuticalcomposition of the invention is an injectable solution or an eye dropsolution. In particular embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition ofthe invention comprises as active ingredient a VHH or a VHH-comprisingpolypeptide, wherein the VHH preferably has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3,and a neurovita peptide, preferably with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:7,fused C-terminally to said VHH. In preferred embodiments, thepharmaceutical composition of the invention comprises as activeingredient a VHH-comprising polypeptide comprising a VHH, a Neurovitapeptide and a neuron cell-targeting peptide, preferably with thesequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:32, fused N-terminally to said VHH.

The invention is also directed to an agent (designated as “the agent ofthe invention”) consisting of any of the following compounds: a VHH orVHH-comprising polypeptide of the invention, a nucleic acid encodingsuch a polypeptide, a vector comprising such a nucleic acid, a cell orcell line comprising such polypeptide, nucleic acid and/or vector, or apharmaceutical composition comprising said polypeptide, nucleic acid,vector and/or cell or cell line, wherein said agent of the invention isfor use as a medicament and/or in the preparation of a medicament. Theinvention also comprises methods of treating a host, especially a humanpatient, in need thereof using an agent of the invention. In particularembodiments, the VHH-comprising polypeptide for use of the inventioncomprises a VHH, preferably with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and aNeurovita peptide, preferably with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, fusedC-terminally to said VHH. In preferred embodiments, the VHH-comprisingpolypeptide for use of the invention comprises a VHH, a Neurovitapeptpide and a neuron cell-targeting peptide, preferably with thesequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:32, fused N-terminally to said VHH.

In particular embodiments, the treatment of the invention comprisesinjecting intravenously the agent of the invention and/or the medicamentis for intravenous injection. In particular embodiments, the treatmentof the invention comprises administering the agent in the eye(ophthalmic administration) and/or the medicament is presented as eyedrops. In particular embodiments, the agent of the invention is for usein (or for the preparation of a medicament for) the treatment of a humansubject. In particular embodiments, the agent of the invention has anadvantageous and/or therapeutic effect on brain cells. In particularembodiments, the agent of the invention is for use in, and/or for thepreparation of a medicament for, the treatment of a CNS or brain diseaseor condition. Specific diseases contemplated include neuronal, inparticular neurodegenerative diseases. Specific conditions contemplatedinclude brain stroke, injury, glaucoma, trauma or lesion, induced byextrinsic or intrinsic (to the individual) factors. In preferredembodiments, the agent of the invention comprises a VHH-comprisingpolypeptide comprising or consisting of a VHH, preferably with thesequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and a Neurovita peptide, preferably with thesequence of SEQ ID NO:7, fused C-terminally to said VHH and optionally aneuron cell-targeting peptide, preferably with the sequence of SEQ IDNO:1 or SEQ ID NO:32, fused N-terminally to said VHH, and the agent isfor use in the treatment of (or for the preparation of a medicament for)neuronal diseases, in particular neurodegenerative diseases or brainstroke, glaucoma, trauma, lesion or injury.

Further teachings regarding the production of camelid antibodies, andmodifications thereof, in particular for use in therapeuticapplications, are disclosed in Harmsen and De Haard, 2007.

The device of the invention is similar in presentation to devicesdisclosed in the prior art, e.g. in Weksler et al., 2005, U.S. Pat. No.8,084,254 B2 and WO 2006/056879, in that it consists of or comprises acontainer suitable for cell culture comprising one or more confluentlayers, preferably monolayers, of endothelial cells, said monolayersseparating the cell culture container in two compartments. In contrastto devices of the prior art, the device of the invention is ablood-brain barrier in vitro model characterized in that the devicecomprises cells of human origin including, in one of the compartments,microglial cells. The cells comprised in the device are preferably allhuman cells. At least some of the cells of the device, particularly theendothelial cells, are preferably immortalized cells. Preferably, thecells of the device are all human immortalized cells.

As used herein, “human cells” designates cells of human origin, i.e.derived from cells initially found in a human. In preferred embodiments,the cells are not obtained by direct sampling of a human. Instead, cellssampled from a human are cultured in conditions allowing the productionof cells suitable for in vitro studies, including in sufficient numberand sufficiently homogenous for such studies, which share mostcharacteristics of the cells found in a human and in particular of whichthe genomic DNA consists or essentially consists of sequences found inhuman genomic DNA. Thus, “human cells” may designate immortalized cellsobtained from cells directly sampled in a human, possibly after aselection process. “Human cells” may also designate cells obtained fromthe culture and/or differentiation of stem cells, whether humanembryonic stem cells, human adult stem cells, including pluripotentand/or undifferentiated cells obtained by techniques known to theskilled person. In particular embodiments, the provision of the cells ofthe device does not involve in vivo procedures on a human. In particularembodiments, the cells of the devices are not obtained through thedestruction of human embryos. Likewise, “brain cells” designates cellsof brain origin, i.e. derived from cells of samples from brain tissueand sharing essential characteristics with cells found in the brain.

The container for cell culture may be e.g. a cell culture tube, vial orflask or, preferably, the well of a multi-well plate for cell culture,especially 12-well and 24-well plates. In a particular embodiment, thedevice of the invention comprises a multi-well plate, preferably a12-well or 24-well plate, for cell culture, each well constituting acontainer (comprising two compartments separated by a layer ofendothelial cells, one compartment comprising microglial cells), such adevice allowing to run separate experiments simultaneously. Thecontainer is preferably coated with conventional coatings used in theculture of adherent cells, preferably poly-D-lysine-laminin.

The monolayer of cells may be grown on a physical substrate which ispermeable to liquids and macromolecules, such a as filter suitable forcell culture. The growing of cells on such a filter allows to positionthe layer of cells such that it separates the cell culture container intwo compartments. Since the cell layer is intended to mimic the BBB, oneof the compartments corresponds to the brain, while the othercompartment corresponds to the general blood flow. The former issometimes referred to herein as the “brain compartment”, while thelatter is referred to as the “injection compartment”. The term“injection compartment” is used for simplicity and is not intended tolimit the device or uses thereof to applications where a test substanceis applied in said compartment, and in some setups it might bepreferable to apply the test substance in the brain compartment.

The endothelial cells forming the separation layer in the device arepreferably human cells, preferably immortalized human cells. Inparticular embodiments, the endothelial cells forming the separationlayer are immortalized human cerebral endothelial cells.

In particular, such cells may be obtained by immortalization of humancerebral microvascular entothelial cells as described in Weksler et al.,2005, and/or have similar properties to the hCMEC/D3 cell line disclosedin said publication, or the endothelial cells may be from the hCMEC/D3cell line. Alternatively, other human immortalized BBB endothelial celllines such as hBMEC, TY10, and BB19 could be used. The separationlayer(s) is/are preferably monolayers and is/are confluent, i.e. nospace is left between cells in the (mono)layer(s). In order to prepare aconfluent layer of cells, cells should usually be seeded in smallernumber than required for confluence and left to grow, usually forseveral days, until they reach confluence. The layer of cells ispositioned in such a way that the separation between the compartments isimpermeable to passive diffusion of macromolecules and/or so that anymolecule transported from one compartment to the other must do sothrough the cell layer.

The microglial cells in the device of the invention are present in thebrain compartment. Said cells are preferably human cells, preferablyhuman immortalized cells. Such cells may consist of CHME-5 cells orsimilar cells obtained by immortalization of human foetal microglia bythe T antigen of SV40 (as described in e.g. Peudenier et al., 1991).Alternatively, primary cells may be used (e.g. available commerciallyfrom ScienCell 6076 Corte Del Cedro, Carlsbad, Calif.—92011, USA). Thecells in the brain compartment may either have no contact with theendothelial cells forming the separation layer, or may be cultivated incontact with said layer. According to a particular embodiment, theendothelial cells and the microglial cells are not in contact and themicroglial cells are positioned opposite from the endothelial cells, intheir compartment.

The brain compartment of the device may comprise other cell types inaddition to microglial cells. The additional cells are preferably human,preferably human immortalized cells or cells obtained from humanimmortalized cells. In particular, other cell types such as other braincells in particular neurons or astrocytes or both may be present in thebrain compartment. Human Neurons and astrocytes may be obtained bydifferentiation of Ntera-2clD/1 cells (available from ATCC, with thereference CRL-1973) as described in PaquetDurand et al., 2003, Sandhu etal., 2003 and in the examples section. Alternatively, primary cells maybe used.

An alternative source of cells, SK-N-SH D cells, in particular for theproduction of the device of the invention, is disclosed herein. Thesecells, a clone isolated from the neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH (ATCCHTB-11), acquire the features of neuron cells, in particular whencultivated in EndoGRO™ medium (EndoGRO™-LS #SCME 001 or EndoGRO™-MV#SCME004; Merck-millipore, France), while they are routinely grown andmaintained in conventional cell culture medium such as DMEMGlutamax-I-High Glucose-Na Pyr. Such cells are therefore convenient togrow and maintain and may in a short time be differentiated into neuroncells by transferring them in the appropriate differentiation medium,such as EndoGRO™, which differentiation medium may also be used as theincubation medium of the model. The invention therefore provides theSK-N-SHD cell line, deposited at the CNCM (Collection Nationale deCulture de Microorganismes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France) on 4 Sep.2015, under the number CNCM I-5010. These cells are provided inparticular for use as neuron cell models, e.g. to assay the effect ofpharmacological compounds on said cells. More particularly, these cellsare provided for use in the manufacture of a device of the invention,particularly for seeding in the brain compartment. In any of theembodiments disclosed herein, the device of the invention may comprise,in its brain compartment, SK-N-SH D cells.

In the art, the use of microglial cells in the brain compartment of aBBB model is usually avoided, in particular due to their inflammatorynature and their BBB disruption capacity (see e.g. Carvalho da Fonsecaet al., 2014). However, the inventors have surprisingly shown that adevice of the invention may comprise (or be seeded with) 15% or more andeven 24% or more of microglial cells in the brain compartment, withoutany significant impairment of its functions as a BBB. In particular, BBBmodels of the invention seeded with 1.5% to 24% of microglial cells havebeen shown to be functional. Such a model with 80% or more of microglialcells is also fully functional. In the brain, microglial cells representfrom 1.5% to 24% of cells, depending in particular on the region of thebrain (Kettenmann and Ransom, 2012), and the device of the invention hasbeen shown to be functional with 1.5% or 24% of microglial cellsrelative to the total cell content of the brain compartment. Thequantification and mixing of cells is preferably performed when seedingthe cells in the brain compartment, since at this stage cells need to betrypsinized to recover them from the cell culture and seed them.However, since little cell division or death is expected to occur duringthe period from the seeding of cells to experimental use of the device,the ratio established at the time of seeding may be a closeapproximation, or an underestimate, of the final ratio in the device.

In a particular embodiment, the microglial cells represent 1.5% of cellsin said compartment. In a particular embodiment, the microglial cellsrepresent 24% of cells in said compartment. In another particularembodiment, the microglial cells represent 15% of cells in saidcompartment. In particular embodiments, the microglial cells represent1.5% to 15%, 1.5% to 24%, or from 5% to 20% or from 10% to 20% of cellsin said compartment. In particular embodiments, the microglial cellsrepresent 1.5% to 5% or 20% to 24% of cells in the brain compartment.

The skilled person will appreciate that the ratio of microglial cells inthe brain compartment may vary as cells grow in said compartment, inparticular since the different types of cells may have different growthand/or survival rates. In particular embodiments, the device of theinvention contains the above ratio of microglial cells in the braincompartment at the time of addition of cells (in other words, braincompartment of the device of the invention is seeded with cellscomprising microglial cells in the above-disclosed ratio to the totalcell content). In particular embodiments, the ratio of microglial cellsis 24% or more, 50% or more, 75% or more in the brain compartment whenthe device of the invention is used for an assay. The ratio may bemeasured at the beginning of the assay and/or the ratio may be assayedat the end of the assay. Preferably, the ratio stays in the followingranges during the entire assay: 10% to 100%, 15% to 100%, 24% to 100%,50% to 100%, 70% to 100% or 80% to 100%. In a particular preferredembodiment, the device is seeded with a 15% ratio of microglial cells inthe brain compartment and this ratio is 80% or higher two days afterseeding.

Generally speaking, the methods to cultivate, manipulate and maintaincells required to prepare the device of the invention are readily knownto the skilled person. Specifically, however, since co-culture ofendothelial cells, such a hCMEC/D3, and of microglial cells, such asCHME, was never achieved in the prior art, the inventors have developedspecific culture conditions. In particular embodiments, the cells of thedevice of the invention are in (or the cell culture container contains)a cell culture medium comprising EBM-2, supplemented with fetal bovineserum, hydrocortisone, bFGF, ascorbic acid, chemically defined lipids,HEPES and optionally penicillin-streptomycin, preferably in quantitieswhich do not significantly differ from those disclosed in the examplessection, particularly do not differ by more than 50%, preferably not bymore than 25%, 10% or more preferably 5%. In particular embodiments, thebrain or the injection compartment, or both compartments of the deviceof the invention contain EndoGRO™-LC or EndoGRO™-MV (Merck-millipore,France) medium, or any medium suitable for the differentiation ofSK-N-SHD cells into neuronal cells. In preferred embodiments, bothcompartments contain the same culture medium. Additional guidanceregarding cell culture and manipulations may be found in thepublications cited herein and in the Examples section.

Specific technical features and experimental conditions disclosed in theExamples section define preferred embodiments of methods to prepare adevice and/or of the device of the invention.

In a particular embodiment the microglial cells (and possibly otherbrain cells) are not in contact with the monolayer of endothelial cellsand/or the filter on which such cells are seeded, or are not in closeproximity to said cells or filter.

In another embodiment, the microglial cells are positioned under theendothelial cells and/or the filter or in close proximity thereof.

Methods of preparation of a device of the invention are encompassed inthe invention. Said methods will usually comprise the steps of:

-   -   Obtaining endothelial cells, preferably human immortalized        endothelial brain cells;    -   Seeding said endothelial cells on a filter suitable for cell        culture and then    -   Growing said cells to confluence on said filter;    -   And the steps of:    -   Obtaining microglial cells, preferably human immortalized        microglial cells;    -   Optionally, obtaining other brain cells, especially neurons        and/or astrocytes, especially neurons and astrocytes obtained by        differentiation of human immortalized brain cells, in particular        Ntera-2clD/1 and/or SK-N-SHD cells;    -   Seeding said microglial cells, optionally together with the        other brain cells, in a container suitable for cell culture, and        preferably filling said container with EBM-2 medium supplemented        as described above;    -   And then the steps of:    -   Providing, in particular transporting the filter carrying the        confluent layer(s) of endothelial cells in the container where        the microglial cells were seeded;    -   positioning said filter so that it separates said container in        two compartments,    -   providing microglial cells and optionally other cells, in        particular other brain cells in one of the compartment thus        obtained in the container.

Uses of the device of the invention are encompassed in the invention.Such uses comprise any methods where the availability of an in vitrodevice mimicking the behaviour of the human BBB (an “in vitro model ofthe BBB” as used herein) can be considered advantageous. Such uses areknown by the skilled person and are common in the field of drugdevelopment, especially for drugs or drug candidates intended to be usedin the treatment of brain diseases or conditions and drugs or substancesintended to be used in diagnostics procedures involving the brain, e.g.in brain imaging procedures. The invention therefore comprises the useof a device of the invention as an in vitro model of the BBB, inparticular to test the ability of molecules that have crossed the BBB totarget other brain parenchyma cells such as microglia, neurons orastrocytes. Particular embodiments are methods of testing, especiallymethods of testing the permeability of a test substance across the BBBand methods of testing the toxicity of a test substance on the BBB,comprising applying the test substance to the cell culture container ofthe device of the invention and/or incubating said test substance in thecontainer of the device and determining whether said test substancepermeates the BBB and/or has a toxic effect on the BBB and/or istargeted to specific cells of the brain compartment.

The test substance, as will clearly appear to the skilled person, can beany substance, especially one intended for in vivo use (especially innon-human mammalians and/or humans), especially a substance beingdeveloped for use a drug or as a diagnostics agent. Quantities of thetest substance which may be applied to the device depend on theobjective of the testing methods. In particular, since only a fractionof a permeable substance will usually permeate across the BBB in commonexperimental conditions, the amount initially applied should be suchthat a fraction (preferably more than 0.1%, more preferably more than0.5%, 1%, 2.5% or 5% and even more preferably more than 10%) of saidamount is readily detectable by methods available for detecting thissubstance, in testing methods of the permeability of said substanceacross the BBB. On the other hand, a very large amount of substance maylead to undesired effects, including the saturation of cellulartransport mechanisms which allow substance to permeate the BBB oreffects due to unspecific or low-affinity binding of the substance tocellular or extracellular components, of no biological or physiologicalrelevance when reasonable amounts of the substance are used, butsignificant in the presence of large amounts.

For example, for testing permeability, typical amounts of proteinsapplied in the wells of a device of the invention based on a 12-wellplate would be equal to or higher than 0.1 pg, preferably equal to orhigher than 1 pg, 2 pg or 5 pg, more preferably equal to or higher than10 pg and lower than 10 mg, 1 mg, 100 μg, 10 μg or 1 μg, preferablylower than 100 ng, 10 ng or 1 ng.

When testing toxicity, the skilled person will appreciate that theamount of test substance applied should usually reflect at least thehighest amount of said substance the BBB is expected to be exposed to inthe intended use of said substance. For example, in testing abrain-acting drug, toxicity on the BBB should be tested at amountssignificantly higher than the amount that is expected to produce maximumtherapeutic effect, in order for the test to allow concluding, when itrevealed no toxicity, that the therapeutically efficient amount ofsubstance is not toxic to the BBB. This also holds true when a substanceis intended to be used for experimental purpose, including testing forits permeability: testing for toxicity beforehand, with amounts higherthan the maximum amount intended to be used in the permeability testing,will allow, if the toxicity test reveals no toxicity, to conclude thatthe results of the permeability test are not related to a toxic effect.Typically, the amount of substance applied in the toxicity test is 10times, 5 times, 2 times or 1 time the maximum amount of substanceapplied or intended to be applied, in permeability testing. Inparticular embodiments, a testing method of the invention comprises thesteps of the method for testing toxicity of a test substance on the BBBand the steps of the method for testing the permeability of said testsubstance across the BBB, wherein at least the same amount, preferablyat least 2 times or 5 times and more preferably at least 10 times theamount, of said test substance is applied to the device of the inventionin the toxicity test, relative to the amount in the permeability test.

Testing the permeability of the test substance across the BBB (or thecapacity of the test substance to cross the BBB) comprises the step ofdetermining the presence of said test substance in the compartment whereit was not applied initially (the “‘trans’ compartment”), especially thecompartment comprising the microglial cells or brain compartment. Areasonable amount of time is usually allowed between the application ofthe test substance in a compartment and the determination of itspresence in the other compartment. Typical times for testing rangepreferably from 10 min to 4 hours, preferably 10 min, 30 min, 45 min, 1h, 90 min, 2 h, 3 h or 4 h. In preferred embodiments, the methods is fortesting the permeability of said test substance from the general bloodflow to the brain and, accordingly, the test substance is appliedinitially in the injection compartment (i.e. the compartment which doesnot comprise microglial cells) and its presence is detected in the braincompartment.

Determining the presence of the test substance may or may not involvequantification of the amount of said substance in the ‘trans’compartment. Said determination may be performed in situ on the ‘trans’compartment, i.e. the contents of the ‘trans’ compartment or a fractionof said contents are allowed to remain in said compartment forsubsequent detection/quantification steps. Alternatively, saiddetermination may be performed after recovery of the contents of saidcompartment or a sample of said contents, said recovery comprising orconsisting of pipetting and/or aspirating and/or otherwise recoveringthe liquid media in said compartment and/or recovering cells insuspension in said medium and/or recovering, especially bytrypsinization, adherent cells from said compartment and transferringsaid medium and/or cells in a separate container, such as a test tube,for subsequent detection/quantification steps. In particularembodiments, the determination of the presence of said test substance inthe ‘trans’ compartment comprises a step of performing, on the ‘trans’compartment or on the contents thereof or a sample of said contents, amethod that detects significant amounts of said test substance (but doesnot detect insignificant amounts), preferably a method that detectsnon-trace amounts of said test substance (but does not detect traceamounts), and determining whether said test substance is detected or isnot detected by said method in the ‘trans’ compartment. In theseembodiments, the method leads to the conclusion that the test substanceis permeable across the BBB if said test substance is detected in the‘trans’ compartment and vice-versa.

Methods which allow the detection of non-trace amounts (and/or ofsignificant amounts) and that do not allow the detection of traceamounts (and/or of insignificant amounts) include in particularimmunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), westernblotting, radioimmunoassays, PCR in the case of nucleic acids, etc. Theskilled person will appreciate that most conventional molecular biologymethods of detection may detect a test substance in non-trace amounts(and/or in significant amounts), when adapted through common knowledgein the field while trace amounts (and/or insignificant amounts) willusually not be detected. However, highly sensitive methods such as massspectrometry or, in the case of nucleic acids, PCR and related methods,especially nested PCR and other methods known to successfully amplifyminute amounts of nucleic acids, might lead to the detection of traceamounts and the skilled person will appreciate that such methods mightlead to concluding that a substance is permeable when in fact it is notif no lower threshold of quantity is set for the detection. This alsoapplies to some ELISA assays, radioimmunoassays, etc. which have beenoptimized for the detection of trace amounts of e.g. proteins.

In particular embodiments, the determination of the presence of saidtest substance in the ‘trans’ compartment comprises the steps ofperforming, on the ‘trans’ compartment or the contents thereof or asample of said contents, a method that allows the quantification of theamount of said test substance. In such embodiments, quantification,preferably using the same method, may be performed, usually beforeapplication of the test substance to the device of the invention, todetermine the amount of test substance initially applied and/orquantification, preferably using the same method may be performed todetermine the amount of test substance remaining in the compartmentwhere it was initially injected. When accurate measurement of quantitycan be obtained through several methods, the same method need not beused to quantify the different fractions. When no suitable method isavailable or practicable to determine accurate measurement of quantitiesof the test substance in at least one of the fractions, the same methodis preferably used in all fractions in order to estimate relativequantities as accurately as possible.

In such embodiments, the quantity of substance that permeated across theBBB may be expressed in relative terms, either related to the amount ofsubstance initially injected or to the amount of substance that has notpermeated. If two of these amounts have been determined, the third canbe easily calculated, and both these ratios are easily calculated aswell, unless the total amount of detectable substance is modified duringthe incubation time by e.g. degradation or amplification. If estimatedvalues only can be established, it is usually preferable to overestimatethe amount of initially injected substance and to underestimate theamount of permeated substance, so the ratio of permeated to initiallyinjected substance can be expressed as “at least x %”. Such embodimentslead to the conclusion that the test substance is permeable across theBBB if at least 0.1%, 0.2% or 0.5% of the initially injected amount ofsaid substance permeated across the separation layer within a reasonableamount of time, preferably if at least 1%, 2% or 3% of said substancepermeated, more preferably if at least 5%, 10% or 20% of said substancepermeated. Methods that allow the quantification of a test substance areknown to the skilled person and comprise western blotting,radioimmunoassays, quantitative ELISA, qPCR or semi-quantitative PCR inthe case of nucleic acids, fluorescence-assisted cell sorting (FACS),etc.

Determining the presence of the test substance in the ‘trans’compartment may, especially when said substance is applied in theinjection compartment, additionally comprise the step of determining inwhich site of said compartment the substance is found. Site is used herein a broad sense with the meaning of any specific location or type oflocation or environment, or functional entity which can be described,possibly including the physiochemical state of the substance, e.g.“adsorbed to the surface (or the molecular coating) of the cell culturecontainer”, “in solution in the medium”, “bound to the cell surface [ofa given cell type]”, “in a given cellular compartment, e.g. lysosomes”,“in complexes containing a given protein”, etc. In particularembodiments, the method comprises an additional step of determiningwhether said test substance is associated with a given cell type,especially is internalized in, and/or bound to the cell surface of, saidcell type, especially of a cell type of the brain compartment. Inparticular embodiments, the method comprises the steps of determining byimmunohistochemistry whether a substance is targeted to a given celltype, i.e. is associated with said cell type and not, or significantlyless, with other cells in the compartment. Methods allowing to determinethe site where a test substance is found are known to the skilled personand include microscopy-based methods (in particularimmunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy,electron microscopy, etc), methods of determining association with aspecific cellular compartment involving cellular disruption such ascellular fractionation and/or gradient centrifugation for the separationof said compartments, methods for determining presence of a protein in amulti-protein complex such as immunoprecipitation etc.

Testing the toxicity of the test substance on the BBB comprises the stepof determining whether the test substance has a toxic effect on theendothelial cells constituting the separation layer of the device. Inanother embodiment, testing the toxicity of the test substance on theBBB comprises the step of determining whether the test substance has atoxic effect on the other brain cells present in the container. Saidsubstance is applied to the injection compartment and/or the braincompartment and determination of the toxic effect is usually performedafter incubation of the test substance for a given amount of time.Typical incubation times in such methods range preferably from 2 h to 7days, more preferably from 6 h to 4 days. Incubation times arepreferably equal to or longer than 1 h, more preferably equal to orlonger than 2 h or 4 h and more preferably equal to or longer than 6 or12 h. Incubation times are preferably equal to or shorter than 7 days,more preferably equal to or shorter than 6 days or 5 days and even morepreferably equal to or shorter than 4 days, 3 days or 2 days. A toxiceffect may be detected when cells present reduced viability compared tocells which were not incubated or were incubated in comparableexperimental conditions but without application of the test substance(or with the application of a control substance which has no toxiceffect on the BBB). Cell viability may be determined using methods knownto the skilled person. Other methods of detecting a toxic effect arealso known to the skilled person, including detecting and/or quantifyingmarkers of cell death or apoptosis such as proteins and/or genesexpressed in cells undergoing cell death or apoptosis and not in viablecells (or expressed in greater quantity than in viable cells).

Although details are given for a method to test for the existence of atoxic effect of a test substance on the endothelial cells or on otherbrain cells of the device, similar methods apply to test for otherbiological effect of a test substance on said cells and/or on othercells of the device, in particular the cells of the brain compartment.

EXAMPLES Example 1 VHH and VHH-Comprising Polypeptide Sequences

The VHH with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, named VHH A12, was selectedfrom a VHH immune library. VHH immune libraries have been previouslycreated as described in 1997 by Ghahroudi et al. One Alpaca has beenimmunized with a human brain hippocampus extract, isolated from anAlzheimer disease patient. This extract contains different proteins.mRNA extracted from circulating B lymphocytes were retrotranscripted. Toselect cDNA coding only for VHH and not for conventional antibodies,they have been amplified thanks to primers complementary to FR1 and CH2regions. VHH sequences were cloned in the phagemid pHEN1 in fusion withthe phage coat protein III (pIII), and the phagemid used to transform E.coli TG1 bacteria. The expression of recombinant VHH was induced withIPTG. After panning by phage display technology, individual colonieswere selected, cultured and tested. When we have selected specific VHH,we performed a digestion step by NcoI and NotI for 3H at 37° C. on thebacteria culture. Digestion products were loaded in an agarose gel andelectrophoresis was performed at 180 V for 45 min to separate the insertfrom the plasmid pHEN1 vector. We recovered the 400 bp fractioncorresponding to VHH sequences and performed a ligation with anotherplasmid pASK-Iba2, previously digested with NcoI and NotI, at 16° C.overnight. For the ligation, ration plasmid/insert was 1/5.Ultracompetent XL2 bacteria (Agilent technologies) were first treated byadding beta-mercaptoethanol and incubated 10 min at 4° C., swirlinggently every 2 min. We add 1 μL of DNA (30 ng) and incubated for 30 minat 4° C. A heat-pulse was performed at 42° C. for 30 sec and bacteriawere then incubated on ice for 2 min. 500 μL of 2YT were added andcultures were incubated for 1H at 37° C. under stirring. Two hundred ofcultures were spread on Petri dishes and incubated overnight at 37° C.The same manipulation was realized to control good transformation ofbacteria. A preculture was incubated overnight at 30 ° C. in 2YT+A. OnemL of preculture was used to seed 100 mL of 2YT+A. When OD550 equals0.5, we add 10 μL of anhydrotetracycline (final concentration: 200ng/mL) and shake overnight at 20° C. VHH were expressed in bacteriaperiplasm and they contained a Strep-tag in C-terminal region. Thanks tothe tag, we purified them from bacteria extract with an affinitychromatography column, Strep-Tactine Sepharose (Iba), according tomanufacturer recommandations. In order to control sample purity, anelectrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel could be performed. Proteins wererevealed by coloration with Coomassie brilliant blue for 1H at RT understirring. Then decoloration was fulfilled by successive water bath.Selections were realized with one immune phage display library, Intiagainst a brain extract from an Alzheimer's disease patient (Sg tau4697). Among 61 clones isolated with the Sg tau 4697 screening, 2 clonesVHH-A12 and VHH-E8 were expressed in E. Coli (FIG. 1) and furthercharacterized.

The NV3-Cyto (NV) sequence (SEQ ID NO:7) is disclosed in W02013068430 asneurovita 3. Keeping in mind that NV3 has to maintain its freecarboxy-terminus (containing the PDZ-BD), the NV3-Cyto sequence has beeninserted at the —COON portion of the neurocargo-neurovita molecule. Saidneurovita sequence may be in particular encoded by the nucleic acid withthe sequence of:

(SEQ ID NO: 8) CGCCGGGTAAACCGCAGTGAACCGACCCAGCACAATCTGCGTGGGACTGGTCGTGAGGTGTCCGTTACGCCACAGTCTGGCAAAATCATTAGCTCGTGGGAAGTaCATGGCCAGCAAACCCGCTTA.

Alternatively, in the VHH3 VHH-comprising polypeptide, a neurovitapeptide inactivated by deletion of the PDZ-BS is fused at the C-terminalextremity of said VHH-comprising polypeptide. Said inactivated neurovitahas the sequence of SEQ ID NO:9 and can be encoded by the nucleic acidwith the sequence of:

SEQ ID NO: 10) CGCCGGGTAAACCGCAGTGAACCGACCCAGCACAATCTGCGTGGGACTGGTCGTGAGGTGTCCGTTACGCCACAGTCTGGCAAAATCATTAGCTCGTGGG AAGTaCATGGCCAG.

A VHH A12 which does not recognize any human brain protein has beenisolated from an immunized alpaca phage display. It is well expressedand has a basic pI (9.78). This VHH has the sequence of:

(SEQ ID NO: 3) EVQLQASGGGLAQPGGSLRLSVTVSGSIDVINNMAWYRQAPGNARELVATITSGFSTNYASSVKGRFTISRDNAKKAVYLQMNSLKPEDTADYYSKVHLI RLGAARAYDYWGQGTQVTVSand can be encoded in particular by the nucleic acid with the sequenceof:

(SEQ ID NO: 4) GAGGTGCAGCTGCAGGCGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGCGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCCCTGAGACTCTCCGTAACAGTCTCTGGAAGTATCGATGTTATTAATAACATGGCCTGGTACCGCCAGGCTCCAGGGAATGCGCGCGAGTTGGTCGCCACAATTACTAGTGGTTTTAGCACAAACTATGCAAGCTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAAAGCGGTATATCTACAGATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCGATTATTACTCTAAGGTTCACTTAATACGTCTTGGGGCCGCGCGGGCGTATGACTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGT CACCGTCTCC.

In order to increase the specificity of the nanobody molecule towardneuron cells only, we used the RDP sequences (i.e. Rabies DerivedPeptide) derived from the G protein of the CVS-NIV sequence (europeanpatent 09290257.6 (2009), PCTIB2010000967 (2010), U.S. Ser. No.13/263050 and US2012100116). Two particular sequences can be used eitherRDP1 YTIWMPENPRLGMSCDIFTNSRGKRASKG (SEQ ID NO:1), particularly encodedby the nucleic acid with the sequence of:

(SEQ ID NO: 2) TATACGATTTGGATGCCGGAAAATCCACGTCTGGGCATGTCGTGCGATATCTTTACCAACAGTCGCGGTAAACGCGCGAGCAAAGGG, or  RDP2 (SEQ ID NO: 32)KSVRTWNEILPSKGCLRVGGRCHPHVNGGG.The two peptides have been designed to contain epitopes involved intothe recognition of two different neuronal molecules used by RABV asreceptors (Lafon M., 2005). In a first set of neurocargo-neurovitamolecules, RDP1 only has been tailored. Other neuron cell-targetingpeptide that can be used include the peptides with the sequence of:

(SEQ ID NO: 33) KSVRTWNEIIPSKGCLRVGGRCHPHor with the sequence of YTIWMPENPRPGTPCDIFTNSRGKRASNG (SEQ ID NO:34).The VHH-comprising polypeptides contain a strep-tag sequenceGGGSAWSHPQFEKAAA (SEQ ID NO:5) to label the molecule, which can beencoded in particular by the nucleic acid with the sequence of:

(SEQ ID NO: 6) GGTGGAGGCTCAGCTTGGAGCCACCCGCAGTTCGAAAAAGCGGCCGCA.also contains a peptide with the sequence MA (MA peptide), including theinitiator methionine (particulary encoded by the nucleic acid with thesequence of: ATGGCC). The above peptides have been fused in thefollowing order (from N to C-terminal):MA peptide, RDP1, VHH A12, Streptag, NV. The resulting polypeptide, designated herein VHH1, has thesequence of:

(SEQ ID NO: 11) MAYTIWMPENPRLGMSCDIFTNSRGKRASKGEVQLQASGGGLAQPGGSLRLSVTVSGSIDVINNMAWYRQAPGNARELVATITSGFSTNYASSVKGRFTISRDNAKKAVYLQMNSLKPEDTADYYSKVHLIRLGAARAYDYWGQGTQVTVSGGGSAWSHPQFEKAAARRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKI ISSWEVHGQQTRL.Said polypeptide can be in particular encoded by the nucleic acid withthe sequence of:

(SEQ ID NO: 12) ATGGCCTATACGATTTGGATGCCGGAAAATCCACGTCTGGGCATGTCGTGCGATATCTTTACCAACAGTCGCGGTAAACGCGCGAGCAAAGGGGAGGTGCAGCTGCAGGCGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGCGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCCCTGAGACTCTCCGTAACAGTCTCTGGAAGTATCGATGTTATTAATAACATGGCCTGGTACCGCCAGGCTCCAGGGAATGCGCGCGAGTTGGTCGCCACAATTACTAGTGGTTTTAGCACAAACTATGCAAGCTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAAAGCGGTATATCTACAGATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCGATTATTACTCTAAGGTTCACTTAATACGTCTTGGGGCCGCGCGGGCGTATGACTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCGGTGGAGGCTCAGCTTGGAGCCACCCGCAGTTCGAAAAAGCGGCCGCACGCCGGGTAAACCGCAGTGAACCGACCCAGCACAATCTGCGTGGGACTGGTCGTGAGGTGTCCGTTACGCCACAGTCTGGCAAAATCATTAGCTCGTGGGAAGTACATGGCCAGCAAACCCGCTTATGATAA,which includes two stop codons at the 3′end.

As a control, the corresponding molecules lacking the NV3-CytoPDZ-binding domain (PDZ-BD) (or PDZ-binding sequence, PDZ-BS),designated herein VHH3, or lacking the RDP1 sequence, designated hereinVHH2, have been generated. These polypeptides correspond to thefollowing fused peptides and have the following sequences: VHH2: MApeptide, VHH A12, StrepTag, NV;

(SEQ ID NO: 13) MAEVQLQASGGGLAQPGGSLRLSVTVSGSIDVINNMAWYRQAPGNARELVATITSGFSTNYASSVKGRFTISRDNAKKAVYLQMNSLKPEDTADYYSKVHLIRLGAARAYDYWGQGTQVTVSGGGSAWSHPQFEKAAARRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVHGQQTRL,which can in particular be encoded by the nucleic acid with the sequenceof:

(SEQ ID NO: 14) ATGGCCGAGGTGCAGCTGCAGGCGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGCGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCCCTGAGACTCTCCGTAACAGTCTCTGGAAGTATCGATGTTATTAATAACATGGCCTGGTACCGCCAGGCTCCAGGGAATGCGCGCGAGTTGGTCGCCACAATTACTAGTGGTTTTAGCACAAACTATGCAAGCTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAAAGCGGTATATCTACAGATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCGATTATTACTCTAAGGTTCACTTAATACGTCTTGGGGCCGCGCGGGCGTATGACTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCGGTGGAGGCTCAGCTTGGAGCCACCCGCAGTTCGAAAAAGCGGCCGCACGCCGGGTAAACCGCAGTGAACCGACCCAGCACAATCTGCGTGGGACTGGTCGTGAGGTGTCCGTTACGCCACAGTCTGGCAAAATCATTAGCTCGTGGGAAGTACATGGCCAGCAAACCCGCTT ATGATAA,which includes two stop codons at the 3′end;

VHH3: MA peptide, RDP1, VHH A12, StrepTag, NV with deleted PDZ-BD:

(SEQ ID NO: 15) MAYTIWMPENPRLGMSCDIFTNSRGKRASKGEVQLQASGGGLAQPGGSLRLSVTVSGSIDVINNMAWYRQAPGNARELVATITSGFSTNYASSVKGRFTISRDNAKKAVYLQMNSLKPEDTADYYSKVHLRLGAARAYDYWGQGTQVTVSGGGSAWSHPQFEKAAA RRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKI ISSWEVHGQ,which can in particular be encoded by the nucleic acid with the sequenceof:

(SEQ ID NO: 16) ATGGCCTATACGATTTGGATGCCGGAAAATCCACGTCTGGGCATGTCGTGCGATATCTTTACCAACAGTCGCGGTAAACGCGCGAGCAAAGGGGAGGTGCAGCTGCAGGCGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGCGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCCCTGAGACTCTCCGTAACAGTCTCTGGAAGTATCGATGTTATTAATAACATGGCCTGGTACCGCCAGGCTCCAGGGAATGCGCGCGAGTTGGTCGCCACAATTACTAGTGGTTTTAGCACAAACTATGCAAGCTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAAAGCGGTATATCTACAGATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCGATTATTACTCTAAGGTTCACTTAATACGTCTTGGGGCCGCGCGGGCGTATGACTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCGGTGGAGGCTCAGCTTGGAGCCACCCGCAGTTCGAAAAAGCGGCCGCACGCCGGGTAAACCGCAGTGAACCGACCCAGCACAATCTGCGTGGGACTGGTCGTGAGGTGTCCGTTACGCCACAGTCTGGCAAAATCATTAGCTCGTGGGAAGTACATGGCCAGTGATAA,which includes two stop codons at the 3′end.

The polypeptide consisting of the fusion of the following peptides inthe following order may also be used: MA peptide, RDP1, VHH A12, NV;said polypeptide having the sequence of:

(SEQ ID NO: 45) MAYTIWMPENPRLGMSCDIFTNSRGKRASKGEVQLQASGGGLAQPGGSLRLSVTVSGSIDVINNMAWYRQAPGNARELVATITSGFSTNYASSVKGRFTISRDNAKKAVYLQMNSLKPEDTADYYSKVHLIRLGAARAYDYWGQGTQVTVSRRVNRSEPTQHNLRGTGREVSVTPQSGKIISSWEVHGQQTRLand particularly being encoded by the nucleic acid with the sequence of:

(SEQ ID NO: 46) ATGGCCTATACGATTTGGATGCCGGAAAATCCACGTCTGGGCATGTCGTGCGATATCTTTACCAACAGTCGCGGTAAACGCGCGAGCAAAGGGGAGGTGCAGCTGCAGGCGTCTGGGGGAGGCTTGGCGCAGCCTGGGGGGTCCCTGAGACTCTCCGTAACAGTCTCTGGAAGTATCGATGTTATTAATAACATGGCCTGGTACCGCCAGGCTCCAGGGAATGCGCGCGAGTTGGTCGCCACAATTACTAGTGGTTTTAGCACAAACTATGCAAGCTCCGTGAAGGGCCGATTCACCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAGAAAGCGGTATATCTACAGATGAACAGCCTGAAACCTGAGGACACGGCCGATTATTACTCTAAGGTTCACTTAATACGTCTTGGGGCCGCGCGGGCGTATGACTACTGGGGCCAGGGGACCCAGGTCACCGTCTCCCGCCGGGTAAACCGCAGTGAACCGACCCAGCACAATCTGCGTGGGACTGGTCGTGAGGTGTCCGTTACGCCACAGTCTGGCAAAATCATTAGCTCGTGGGAAGTACATGGCCAGCAAACCCGCTTATGATAA,which includes two stop codons at the 3′end.

All the constructs have been generated by the standard procedures usedin genetic engineering (as described briefly in Préhaud C. et al, 2010).

Strikingly, the sequences of the VHH A12 disclosed herein show somedivergence to sequences of VHHs of the prior art, even at residues wherethe latter show relatively strong conservation.

Example 2 Cloning and Expression of Neurocargo-Neurovita Molecules

The neurocargo-neurovita gene sequences (VHH1: SEQ ID NO:12, VHH2: SEQID NO:14, VHH3: SEQ ID NO:16) were synthesized chemically by Eurofin MWGOperon company and inserted in the pASK-IBA2 plasmid (IBA, BioTAGnology,USA) under the control of the tetracycline promoter. In this plasmid theompA signal sequence directs the expressed protein into the periplasmicspace and is cleaved off during the translocation process. In theperiplasmic space, disulfide bond-forming proteins which are properlyfolded can be found. The recombinant plasmids were used to transformXL1-blue E. coli bacteria (Stratagene, USA). Recombinant bacteria wereidentified by PCR and glycerol stocks were made. VHH-comprisingpolypeptides were expressed and purified from the bacteria periplasm asdescribed by P. Lafaye (2008). Alternatively, proteins can also beextracted directly from the cytoplasm. The periplasmic extract wasfurther purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using a mouse highaffinity anti strep tag mAb such as C23.21 (P. Lafaye, Institut Pasteurbiological collection). Expression of VHH-comprising polypeptides wasmonitored by western blotting using mAb C23.21.

Further, in order to show its dimeric presentation, the purifiedNeurocargo-neurovita was in resolved in NuPage™ gel (Life Technologies,France) with NuPage MES running buffer either as denatured samples(NuPage™ LDS+DTT+boiling) or native samples (NuPage™ LDS) according tomanufacturer's instruction. The neurocargo-neurovita molecules specieswere identified by western blotting with the anti strep tag mAb C23.21(FIG. 1C).

Example 3 Characterization of VHH A12 Neutral

VHH A12 was shown to have the following features: a basic pI (i.e.pI>8.5; in particular 9.86 for the VHH alone and 10.36 for the VHH1polypeptide); no reactivity against a human brain extract (i.e. Sgtau4697) and a mouse brain extract (i.e. Tg 4510) and GFAP (i.e. glialfibrillary astrocytic protein) by western blotting; and noimmunoreactivity on Tg 4510 mouse brain tissue by immunohistochemistry.

The specificity of the VHH of the invention (A12) as compared to acontrol VHH recognizing brain proteins (H8/E9, identical to VHH E9,Perruchini et al.) was determined by western blotting on 3 differentantigens: a human brain extract (Sg tau 4697), a mouse brain extract (Tg4510) and on a purified protein, GFAP, a specific marker of astrocytes.As shown in FIG. 2, no bands were detected by VHH A12. Furthermore, VHHimmunohistochemistry was performed from Tg4510 mouse tissues (Grueningeret al, 2010) harbouring NFTs. As a control, a specific anti-NFTmonoclonal antibody, AT8, showed excellent sensitivity and selectivityfor immunodetection of NFTs on Tg 4510 mouse paraffin sections. Incontrast, no labelling was observed with VHH A12 (FIG. 1). For westernblotting, first we performed a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at 200V for 45 min. Then we transferred proteins from gel to nitrocellulosemembrane during 1H at 30 V. We saturated nitrocellulose membrane withPBS milk 2% for 1H under stirring. The membrane was then incubated for1H with selected VHH diluted at 1 μg/ml in PBS milk 2%, and washed 3times 5 min with PBS Tween. A secondary mouse mAb C23-21 recognizingStrep-tag (DI 2012-32 High-affinity monoclonal anti-Strep-Tag antibodyC23.21 ;Girard-blanc C., Krey T., Vasiliauskaite ieva, Nato F., LafayeP., Dartevelle S., Rey F.) was added at 1:2500 and incubated 1H at 37°C. Then after additional washes, an anti-mouse mAb labelled withperoxidase was added for 1 H. Three washes of 5 min in PBS Tween wereperformed. Next we revealed with photosensible films (Thermo Scientific,Pierce® ECL Western Blotting Substrate) according to manufacturerinstructions.

Example 4 Neurites Outgrowth

Neurite outgrowth assays have been extensively described in Préhaud etal., 2010.

Neuroscreen cells (NS cells) are a pC12 subclone. The cells are grown inRPMI medium as described by manufacturer's instructions(http://www.cellomics.com/content/menu/Neuroscreen-1_Cells/). NS cellswere monitored for 72 h and treated with 200 ng/ml of NGF a time=0 (onehit only) and neurocargo-neurovita (10 pg, at time=6, one hit only).Neurite outgrowth (NO) was basically undertaken as described for SH-SY5Ywith the exception that the NO was monitored 72 h post infection and NScells were always grown in their feeding medium (Cellomics, USA).

NS cells are imaged using a Cell insight (Cellomics, USA) onquadruplicate wells. The average neurite length per neuron is determinedby using the Neuronal profiling bioapplication (Cellomics, USA).

Example 5 Scratch Assay (Axon Regeneration)

For scratch-induced assays, 200 mm2 of NT2-N cells (n=8) were seeded onpoly-D-Lysin-laminin coated cell+(Sarstedt, Germany) 12 wellsplasticware, and were grown for two days in order to recover completelyafter trypsinisation. The medium was changed 4 h before scratching and10 pg of neurocargo-neurovita was added per well. Individual wounds weremade with an injection needle (26GX1/2″, 12-4.5). At least 10 scratchingwere made on each individual well. Alternatively theneurocargo-neurovita was added one hour before scratching. Cells werefixed with PFA (4%) 6 days post wounding and stained with crystal violetsolution. Cells are imaged using a Leica DM 5000B microscope equippedwith a DC 300FX camera (×20 objective) and analysed using ImageJ 1.38×Software (Wayne Rasband, NIH, USA, http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/) and itsplug-in Neuron]. The average percentage of neuron in regeneration isdetermined from 8 experiments.

Example 6 AchR Binding and Competition Assay Monitored by FlowCytometry, Neurocargo-Neurovita Entry into NS Cells

The flow cytometry procedures, which have been followed, have beendescribed in Prehaud et al., 2003. Briefly, Alpha 7 AchR expressing HEK293 cells (Yamauchi et al., 2011) and parental HEK 293 cells are grownin DMEM high glucose (Life Technologies, France) plus 10%FBS. HEK 293cells or AchR expressing HEK 293 cells were seeded on 6 well plates(1.e+06 cells per well). 24 hours post seeding, cells were placed on iceand treated with 20 pg of neurocargo-neurovita for 30 mn before beingprocessed for flow cytometry by using staining buffer. Alternatively forthe competition assay, cells were treated either with U.V. inactivated2.e+07 PFU of Rabies virus-CVS strain (as described in Mégret et al.,2005) or 16 μM Alpha bungarotoxin (Sigma, USA). In order to monitor theentry of the neurocargo-neurovita molecules, the same experiments wereundertaken but permeabilization buffer was used which allowed detectionof both the molecules bound to the receptors and the molecules in thecytoplasm. The neurocargo-neurovita molecules bound to the cytoplasmicmembrane receptors were detected with the anti-strep tag mAb describedabove plus a Cy5 conjugated anti-mouse antibody (Jackson laboratory,USA).

Example 7 Determination of Neuronal Cell (NS) Growth Cone Motility

NS cells were differentiated with 200 ng/ml of NGF a time=0 (one hitonly) and neurocargo-neurovita (10 pg, at time=6, one hit only). As acontrol cells were treated with a bacterial periplasmic extract ofbacteria which do not express neurocargo-neurovita. At 48 h, cells werePFA fixed, permeabilized with 0.3% triton X100 and processed forimmunofluorescence as already described (Préhaud et al., 2010). Nucleiwere detected with Hoescth 33342, βIII Tubulin with a mouse anti beta 3tubulin antibody (G7121, Promega, France) and an antimouse Alexa 488antibody (Jackson laboratory, USA), and F actin network with Alexa 546conjugated phalloidin (A22283, Life Technologies, France).

Example 8 Real Time PCR Analysis of Cellular Gene Expression

The RT-PCR gene expression analysis procedure has been extensivelydescribed in Prehaud et al., 2005. Here due to the cell cultureplasticware used for the assays, the cDNAs molecules were made with RNAranging from 200 ng to 1 μg. The primers used in this study are: TH(HSTH1SG, Qiagen, Germany), GFAP (F:CTGCTTCTTAACCCCAGTAAGCCA (SEQ IDNO:39), R:CAGCAGTGCCCTGAAGATTAGCAG (SEQ ID NO:40)), AQP4(F:GGTATAGTCAATTCTTATTTGAAT (SEQ ID NO:35), R:CTTGAATCTCAATAGGTGCCCTTA(SEQ ID NO:36)), PYGB (F:TCCTGCTGTGTCCTGAGGTGCATT (SEQ ID NO:43),R:GCCCAGATCCAGCATGCAAGGTGC (SEQ ID NO:44)), NEFH(F:CCCCAGGCGATGGACAATTATGAT (SEQ ID NO:41), R: CACTTGGTTTTATTGCACAGAAGC(SEQ ID NO:42)), CD200R (F: TTAACACTTCATGGCCTGTAAGA (SEQ ID NO:37), R:TGTGCCATTGCTCCAGTATTCTTG (SEQ ID NO:38)), and from Qiagen, Germany(HSSLC2A1-1, HSSLC7A5, HSSLC1A1-1, HSSLC38A5-1, HSSLC16A1, HSSLCO1C1,HSSLCABCB1-1, HSABCG2-1, HSABCC1-1, HSABCC2-1, HSABCC4-1, HSABCC5-1,HSLDLR-1, HSLRP1-1, HSINSR -1, HSLEPR-1, HSPVLAP-1, HSLU-1, HSTFRC-1,HSAGER1, HSSTRA6-1).

Example 9 Production of an In Vitro Model of the Human BBB

The immortalization of the human cerebral microvascular endothelial cellline (hCMEC/D3) was performed by Weksler et al., 2005. hCMEC/D3 weregrown in EBM-2 (Lonza, Switzerland) supplemented with fetal bovine serum(5%, Eurobio, France), hydrocortisone (1.4 uM, Sigma, USA), bFGF (1ng/mL, Sigma, USA), Ascorbic acid (5 ug/mL, Sigma, USA), chemicallydefined lipids (1/100, Life technologies, France), HEPES (10 mM, Lifetechnologies, France), penicillin-streptomycin (Life technologies,France). Cells were routinely cultured on rat-tail collagen I (150ug/mL, R&D systems, U.K.)—coated culture flaks (Corning, USA), and split(via trypsinization) twice a week. A differentiated monolayer wasobtained on rat-tail collagen I—(150 ug/mL, R&D systems, U.K.) andfibronectin—(10 ug/mL, Sigma, USA) coated polyester transwells (12 mmdiameter, pore size 0.4 μm Corning, USA). Cells were seeded at a densityof 25,000 cells/cm² and cultured for 5 days. The culture medium waschanged at day 3 of differentiation. At day 5, the in vitro endothelialblood-brain barrier was cultured with the minibrain cells which areseeded on the lower compartment of the device (i.e. minibrain-BBB) oralternatively they were left on medium only (BBB). The minibrain-BBBmodel therefore comprises, in addition to the endothelial cells,neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells, while the BBB model comprisesonly the endothelial cells.

CHME microglial cells were grown in DMEM-F12 (Life Technologies, France)plus 10% FBS (Janabi et al., 1995), hNT2N/A (neurons-astrocytes) weredifferentiated and isolated from the human teratocarcinoma cellsNTera/cl2D1, as described by Préhaud et al., 2005, Lafon et al., 2005and Mégret et al., 2007. hNT2N/A were maintained in DMEM F12 (LifeTechnologies, France) plus 5% FBS. CHME and hNT2N/A cells were isolatedby light tryspsinization and mixed to various ratios, ranging from 0.015to 0.24, in order to match the microglia vs. neuron-astrocytes ratios ofthe different areas of brain Kettenmann and Ransom, 2012. Thesecoculture cells, together designated as minibrain cells, were seeded onpoly-D-Lysine-laminin coated CellBind plastic ware (Corning, USA), inEBM-2 complete medium (described above). After 24 hours, the transwellcontaining the monolayer of endothelial cells was added and the systemwas ready for use 24 hours later.

Example 10 Minibrain-BBB Crossing of Nanobody and Neurocargo-NeurovitaCrossing and Targeting

Minibrain-BBB device containing 1.5% microglia cells were seeded. Oneday post seeding, an Alexa 488 conjugated anti GFAP VHH (VHHE9, Li etal., 2012) was applied to the upper chamber (10 pg of nanobody). 3 and24 hours later, the cells in the lower chamber were PFA fixed,permeabilized with 0.3% triton X100. Photographs were randomly taken(>500) by using the cellinsight (Cellomics, USA). Fluorescent foci weremonitored.

Alternatively, for the neurocargo-neurovita molecules, the fluorescentfoci were monitored after staining with the anti strep-tag antibodydescribed above and an Alexa 488 conjugated anti-mouse antibody (Lifetechnologies, France).

In order to determine the number of neurons targeted withneurocargo-neurovita molecules, cells were also stained with an antiNeurofilalent 200 KDa antibody (Sigma, USA) and an Alexa 546 conjugatedanti-rabbit antibody (Life technologies, France).

Example 11 Determination of the Restrictive Paracellular Permeabilitywith Lucifer Yellow

The restrictive paracellular permeability of hCMEC/D3 cells was assessedby their low permeability to the nonpermeant fluorescent marker luciferyellow (LY) (Sigma Aldrich, L0259). Briefly, after 6 days of culture onfilters, hCMEC/D3 monolayers were transferred to 12-well platescontaining 1.5 mL of transport medium (HBSS CaMg (Gibco, 14025-100)supplemented by 10 mM of hepes (Life technologies, 15630-080) and 1 mMof sodium pyruvate (Life technologies, 11360)) per well (abluminalcompartment). 0.5 mL transport medium containing 50 μM of LY was thenadded to the luminal compartment. Incubations were performed at 37° C.,5% CO₂, 95% humidity. After 15, 25 and 45 minutes, the inserts weretransferred into new wells, beforehand filled with 1.5 mL of transportmedium. After 45 minutes, aliquots were taken for each time point, fromboth compartments and the concentration of LY determined using afluorescence spectrophotometer (Tecan Infinite F500).

The endothelial permeability coefficient (P_(e)) of LY was calculated incentimetres/minute (cm/min), as described by Siflinger-Birnboim et al.(1987). To obtain a concentration-independent transport parameter, theclearance principle is used. Briefly, the average volume cleared isplotted versus time, and the slope is estimated by linear regression.Both insert permeability (PS_(f), for insert only coated with collagen)and insert plus endothelial cell permeability (PS_(t), for insert withcollagen and cells) were taken into consideration, according to thefollowing formula: 1/PS_(e)=1/PS_(t)−1/PS_(f).

The permeability value for the endothelial monolayer was then divided bythe surface area of the porous membrane of the insert (Corning, 3460) toobtain the endothelial permeability coefficient (P_(e)) of the molecule(in cm·min-1).

Determination of the Transendothelial Electrical Resistance (TEER)

The TEER of the HCMEC/D3 was determined after 5, 6 and 7 days of culturein Endogro-MV medium (SCME004, Merck Millipore, France) as alreadydescribed by Weksler et al (2005).

Example 12 The SK-N-SH D Cell Line

The SK-N-SH D cell line is a sub-clone of the ATCC HTB-11 SK-N-SH humanneuroblastoma cell line. It has been isolated in differentiating mediumas a sub-clone which can naturally differentiate at 100% as neuron-likecells which are beta 3-tubuline and actine-F positive cells. The cellline has been deposited at the CNCM (Institut Patseur, Paris, France) on4 September 2015, under the reference number I-5010.

The SK-N-SH D cells are grown routinely in DMEM Glutamax-I-High Glucose(4.5 g/l)-Na Pyr, (Life Technologies, #31966-021) plus 10% fetal calfserum. The cells differentiate sponteanously when transfered either inEndogro-LS (#SCME 001) or Endogro-MV (#SCME004) media (Merck-millipore,France).

BBB models produced using these cells in the brain compartment, andotherwise similar to the above-described models and produced in asimilar fashion, have been successfully tested for suitability in theuses disclosed herein.

In particular, a BBB model comprising, HCMEC-D3 and, in the braincompartment, SK-N-SH D cells, was produced and tested followingprocedures similar as above. A Neurovita-comprising VHH-comprisingpolypeptide of the invention, when incubated in this model, did notalter permeability as measured by P_(e). The VHH-comprising polypeptide,comprising the Neuron cell-targeting peptide, was shown by fluorescencemicroscopy to cross the layer of endothelial cells and to be targeted tothe brain cells in the brain compartment. Further models, comprisingHCMEC D3 and, in the brain compartment, SK-N-SH D cells (neurons), U373MG MG (ECACC #08061901) cells (astrocytes, i.e. macroglial cells) andCHME (microglial cells) could also be successfully developed.

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1. A polypeptide comprising or consisting of a VHH of a camelidheavy-chain antibody, wherein said VHH: i) has the sequence of SEQ IDNO:3; ii) is a sequence variant of the VHH of i), which at least 90%identity with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3; or iii) is a portion of theVHH of i) or ii); and wherein such polypeptide is permeable across theblood-brain barrier and has an isoelectric point equal to or higher than8.5, preferably equal to or higher than
 9. 2. The polypeptide of claim 1wherein the sequence length of the portion is at least 90% of thesequence length of the VHH fragment.
 3. The polypeptide of claim 1,wherein said polypeptide comprises the CDR regions of the VHH fragmentwith the sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
 4. The polypeptide of claim 1, whichis a VHH-comprising polypeptide, wherein said VHH or portion thereof isfused in-frame with additional peptide(s).
 5. The polypeptide of claim 4which comprises a neuron cell-targeting peptide, preferably at theNH2-terminal extremity of said polypeptide.
 6. The polypeptide of claim5 wherein the neuron cell-targeting peptide consists of or comprises thesequence selected among the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ IDNO:32 to SEQ ID NO:34.
 7. The polypeptide of claim 1 which hasdimerization capacity, in particular homodimerization capacity andpreferably wherein homodimerization is achieved by disulfide bridge(s).8. The polypeptide of claim 4 comprising a tagging peptide or anaffinity peptide.
 9. The polypeptide of any of claim 4 comprising aneffector polypeptide fused in-frame, in particular an effectorpolypeptide which has an effect on : cell viability, cell-cycle state,apoptosis, cell survival, cell death, mitosis, cellular differentiation,size or morphology of cells, cell growth, neurite outgrowth, connectionsbetween cells, activation state of cell signalling pathways, signaltransduction, cell mobility, cell motility, disease-related conditions,post-injury or post-lesion related conditions, diagnostic-relatedcondition.
 10. The polypeptide of claim 9 wherein the effectorpolypeptide consists of or comprises a peptide derived from the Gprotein of a Rabies virus which has an effect on the survival and/orprotection and/or motility of neurons and/or which promotes neuriteoutgrowth, in particular a peptide which has the sequence of SEQ IDNO:7.
 11. The polypeptide of any of claim 10 wherein a peptide spacer isinserted between the VHH and the effector polypeptide.
 12. Thepolypeptide of any of claim 1 which comprises a VHH sequence, such asSEQ ID NO:3, a neuron cell-targeting peptide such a SEQ ID NO:1, aNeurovita sequence, such as SEQ ID NO:7 and optionally a tag sequence,such as SEQ ID NO:5 and which preferably has the sequence selected fromthe group consisting of SEQ ID NO:11 and SEQ ID NO:45.
 13. Apolynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of any of claim
 1. 14. A vectorcontaining the polynucleotide of claim
 13. 15. A vector of claim 14suitable for expression of the polypeptide encoded by saidpolynucleotide in bacteria.
 16. A cell or cell line polynucleotide ofclaim
 13. 17. A composition comprising a polypeptide of claim 1 inassociation with a physiologically acceptable vehicle suitable for invivo administration.
 18. A method of treating neurodegenerativediseases, brain stroke, trauma, lesion or injury, comprisingadministering the composition of claim 17 to a subject in need thereof.